Obesity has become a global epidemic and the prevalence is rapidly increasing in Asia. In Hong Kong, roughly 30% of the general adult population are obese, and in addition, another 20% are overweight (2014/15 Hong Kong Population Health Survey). Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease and cancer. The costs of managing obesity and its downstream complications are enormous and pose a serious financial burden to our society.

The Hong Kong Association for the Study of Obesity (HKASO) was established in 2003 by a group of healthcare professionals including endocrinologists, surgeons, family physicians, dietitians, clinical psychologists, physical education specialists and pharmacists, etc, dedicated to raise public awareness about obesity and metabolic health. The Association has the mandate to promulgate evidence-based health information related to obesity and to advocate obesity as a health problem of high priority in our community.