Hong Kong phone app aims to guide users into good nutrition and exercise practices

Developers want to overcome misconceptions over calorie counts and prompt busy users to take up exercise at home

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Sylvia Lam (left), Gary Mak and Hardaway Chan promote the new app. Photo: Raymond Yeung

Published: 5:59pm, 10 Oct 2016Updated: 7:16pm, 10 Oct 2016

A smartphone app developed by sports medicine and diet professionals aims to overcome misconceptions about nutrition and promote a healthy lifestyle through simple exercises tailored for busy individuals.

Currently available in Chinese only with the possibility of an English interface later becoming available, the HK FitNuts app was launched following a study which exposed a general lack of knowledge about nutrition.

A survey of 219 people conducted by the Hong Kong Association of Sports Medicine and Sports Science last year revealed that 55 per cent of respondents had no idea how many calories they should consume every day, while 46 per cent were unaware of their daily intake.

Sylvia Lam See-way, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Dietitians Association, said Hongkongers had stereotypical views when it came to identifying unhealthy food.

“Dishes which look greasy, such as stir-fried beef with flat rice noodles, may not contain the most calories. A lot depends on how the dish is prepared in the kitchen,” Lam said.

While a serving of the dish boasts 970 calories, Hokkien fried rice – another favourite which does not seem as oily – contains 1,400 calories.