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How to age well

Drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide, developed to fight diabetes but with powerful weight-loss effects, were key to property agent Kathryn Dean (above) achieving long-term weight loss. Photo: Instagram/@kathryndeanrealtor

New weight-loss drugs coming to Hong Kong, and what they can do

Semaglutide and tirzepatide helped Texas woman Kathryn Dean lose 18kg and keep the weight off, and she is no longer diagnosed as prediabetic.

22 Oct 2024 - 7:51AM

How strength training builds bone density to head off osteoporosis

20 Oct 2024 - 11:15AM

Why do Hong Kong people like 24-hour gyms? Cost is not the only reason

18 Oct 2024 - 11:51AM

Want to prevent dementia? Do exercise, experts say. Here’s why

Any type of exercise is good for your brain, experts say, as it reduces blood pressure and inflammation, increases good proteins, and more.

14 Oct 2024 - 7:15AM

Multiple studies have found that exercise is good for the brain and can help prevent dementia. One study found that senior participants who took part in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on a treadmill did better on memory tests six months later than those who took part in lower-intensity training exercises. Photo: Shutterstock

How to slow skin ageing? Don’t smoke, says expert. Plus other tips

Lines write the story of your life on your face, starting from about the age of 25. But there are steps you can take to limit their spread.

13 Oct 2024 - 5:15PM

How to choose the best toner for dry or oily skin

Today’s products are much gentler on your skin than classic 90s Neutrogena – try La Mer, SK-II, Aesop or Tata Harper, and feel the difference

13 Oct 2024 - 12:00PM

Why 70 people sat and did nothing for 90 minutes in Hong Kong

The International Space-Out Competition seeks to highlight how sitting still and doing nothing can improve mental health and lower stress.

13 Oct 2024 - 11:17AMvideocam

Many contestants dressed in playful outfits and brought their own chairs to help them space out for 90 minutes. 05OCT24 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Want better mental health? How eating fruit and vegetables can help

On World Mental Health Day, experts explain the benefits of eating more fruit and vegetables and how this can reduce depression and anxiety.

10 Oct 2024 - 5:54AM

Why it may be time for scientists to focus on keeping people healthy for longer

A study concluded that lifespans will not be getting much longer – even in Hong Kong, which has the world’s longest-living population.

7 Oct 2024 - 11:39PMvideocam

How, for IBS sufferers, lifestyle changes can end the discomfort

A Hong Kong study identifies 5 lifestyle changes that lower the risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome. A sufferer confirms they work.

7 Oct 2024 - 7:15PM

After years of suffering with irritable bowel syndrome, Hong Kong kindergarten teacher Amber Nathaniel made lifestyle changes that ended her suffering. Photo: Amber Nathaniel

Why ‘quiet’ burnout is especially risky, and tips on how to spot it

‘Quiet’ burnout can cause depression, heart issues and other problems but often goes undiagnosed. Mental health experts explain its symptoms.

6 Oct 2024 - 6:15PM

“Quiet” burnout can be dangerous like classic burnout, but is harder to detect. Photo: Shutterstock

This 54-year-old has no secrets to ageing well, beyond self-love

After years of being self-conscious, it clicked: ‘This is my body, I want to respect it,’ says Ting Ma, who posts about ageing and self-love.

5 Oct 2024 - 7:56AM

The psychology of chronic pain: why resting can do more harm than good

Chronic pain can be debilitating, leaving sufferers in a downward spiral of inactivity that exacerbates discomfort. Now, therapists are confronting the issue with treatments that address body and mind.

1 Oct 2024 - 10:45AM

The everyday foods and drinks that could lower your dementia risk

Consuming flavonoids, pigments in foods such as berries and red onion and drinks like tea and wine, has been linked to a lower dementia risk.

30 Sep 2024 - 7:15AM

To get a good helping of flavonoids, your plate should be at least half filled with vegetables and legumes. Photo: Shutterstock

How detection of heart disease risk, and its treatment, continue to advance

On World Heart Day, we look at advances in detecting risks of heart attack and stroke, and steps being taken to promote healthy lifestyles.

29 Sep 2024 - 11:15AM

Advances in technology are making it easier to view the heart in greater detail.
Photo: Shutterstock

She’s 78, teaches Pilates, loves dancing. How does she age so well?

Pilates teacher Beth Narain, 78, says being positive about ageing can help you age well. Celebrities including Martha Stewart agree.

7 Oct 2024 - 8:08AM

New research shows how travel can prevent premature ageing

Taking part in new experiences, exercising and connecting with others can boost our immune systems and affect entropy – the ageing process.

27 Sep 2024 - 6:15PM

The ageless A-listers behind skin and haircare brands for women over 40

Innovative hair and skincare products aimed at the older woman won’t stop time but they will help you to grow old gracefully

25 Sep 2024 - 3:00PM

Naomi Watts and Brooke Shields are two celebrities pioneering skin and haircare brands for women over 40. Photos: Getty, Handout

What causes food cravings and expert tips on how to control them

Whether it’s chocolate, cheeseburgers or Chinese food, experts explain what causes food cravings and give advice on how to control them.

25 Sep 2024 - 12:45PM

How to run better, with fewer injuries? Build up hip and core muscles

A study in Finland found that strengthening the hips and core before exercising could be the key to reducing injury risk for newbie runners.

24 Sep 2024 - 6:15PM

Love eating seaweed? Good news: it might help head off Parkinson’s disease

Japanese researchers discover a form of brown algae ‘appears to protect against neurodegeneration’ thanks to its antioxidant properties.

23 Sep 2024 - 4:15PM

A new study suggests that brown algae seaweed called ecklonia cava “appears to protect against neurodegeneration”, and may be used in the fight against Parkinson’s disease.
Photo: Shutterstock

Is sleeping well really a skill that insomniacs can learn? Experts say yes

With busy lives driven by electronic devices, many of us have lost the art of sleeping – but by mastering a few skills, it’s possible to learn to sleep well once again

21 Sep 2024 - 11:15AM

A good night’s sleep may not be as elusive as you might think. Photo: Shutterstock

How to delay dementia? New screening test, drug may help

On World Alzheimer’s Day, we examine how a timely diagnosis can prepare someone with early dementia, and the pros and cons of a new drug.

21 Sep 2024 - 11:55AM

How strength training is key for bone health in menopause and before

Doing strength training during perimenopause and after menopause can help women build bone health and avoid osteoporosis, an expert says.

19 Sep 2024 - 11:15AM

Grey matters: actor Brenda Chan on creating a festival for elder artists

The Hong Kong Creative Aging Arts Festival features more than 100 artists aged 55 and older, and its closing show will explore the challenges of living a mature life in the city

23 Sep 2024 - 3:57PM

Actor Brenda Chan, founder of the Hong Kong Creative Aging Arts Festival. Photo: HKCAAF

How the eyes are windows into our health and why we should get them tested

An eye test can reveal many conditions, from high blood pressure to thyroid disease and diabetes, and preserving good eyesight can stave off dementia.

16 Sep 2024 - 6:15PM

Your eyes are windows into your physical and mental health, and an eye test can reveals symptoms of multiple conditions, from high blood pressure to diabetes and dementia. Photo: Shutterstock

Seed oils ‘are not killing you’, they’re healthy, scientist says

A Stanford professor who disputes TikTok, YouTube claims that cooking with seed oils is risky shares health benefits, and why butter is worse.

14 Sep 2024 - 6:15PM

Do you do deep squats? How they benefit your body and mind

From increasing flexibility to strengthening the pelvic floor, deep squats – known as malasana in yoga – have many benefits, experts explain.

20 Sep 2024 - 10:48AMvideocam

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How to age well

Even before we’re born, the ageing process begins. We are all ageing, every minute, and will never be younger than we are right now. Learn from others, experts and successful agers, what you can do to maintain a strong body, mind and spirit, to slow the ageing process and add more years to your life -- and more life to your years.

last updated:

9 September, 2024