A research team from the School of Public Health at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has found that brisk interval walking performed once a week can significantly improve body fat reduction and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with central obesity, comparable to exercising three times a week – the traditional recommendation for exercise frequency. The study provides strong scientific evidence supporting the therapeutic use of once-weekly brisk interval walking as a convenient exercise approach for adults with central obesity, particularly for those with time constraints. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
A practical, evidence-based exercise approach to combat excess adiposity
Obesity is a common chronic condition characterised by excessive fat accumulation that impairs health. Excess adiposity, particularly when deposited centrally around the abdomen, is linked to negative health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and increased mortality risk. While regular exercise provides comprehensive health benefits and is integral to obesity management, sustained physical activity remains insufficient, especially for individuals with obesity.
Interval training involves alternating periods of vigorous exercise with lower-intensity active recovery exercise. It is an effective, time-efficient approach for reducing total body and visceral adiposity compared to traditional continuous moderate-intensity training. However, standard exercise guidelines typically recommend interval training three days per week, which may not be practical for individuals with time constraints and limited access to exercise facilities. While previous studies found that the ‘weekend warrior’ exercise pattern, which condenses weekly exercise into one to two days, to have positive effects, there has been limited scientific evidence on the efficacy of interval training performed in this pattern.
Professor Parco Siu Ming-fai, Professor and Head of Division of Kinesiology at the School of Public Health, HKUMed, emphasised the importance of validating whether once-weekly interval training can be as effective as the traditional thrice-weekly regimen, thus offering a practical, evidence-based alternative.
Less frequent, similar efficacy
Between September 2021 and September 2024, HKUMed researchers conducted a rigorous trial in Hong Kong involving 315 Chinese adults aged 18 or older who were overweight and had central obesity. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a once-weekly interval training group, a thrice-weekly interval training group or a control group.
The control group attended a 2.5-hour health education session every two weeks over a four-month period. The interval training groups performed a total of 75 minutes of interval training per week, either in a single session or divided into three sessions. The participants’ body fat mass was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at three assessment points: before the intervention (baseline), at 16 weeks (post-intervention), and at 32 weeks (four-month post-intervention follow-up).
The trial results revealed that at the 16-week assessment, both the once-weekly and thrice-weekly interval training programmes similarly reduced excess adiposity, as measured by total body fat mass, fat percentage and waist circumference, and improved cardiorespiratory fitness compared to the control group.
‘While thrice-weekly interval training remains a commonly recommended approach for the therapeutic management of excess adiposity, our findings show that once-weekly interval training offers similar benefits and represents a practical exercise strategy,’ said Professor Siu. ‘For many adults with central obesity who struggle to balance work, study, family and other commitments, time constraints are a primary barrier to exercising multiple days per week.’
‘Instead of relying solely on high-frequency exercise prescriptions, once-weekly interval training can be considered a feasible and effective alternative,’ added Professor Siu.
KUMed study finds that, with the same total workout time, weekly brisk interval walking improves fat loss and heart fitness in adults with obesity, comparable to exercising three times a week – the traditional recommendation for exercise frequency.
Professor Parco Siu Ming-fai (centre) said that while thrice-weekly interval training is a commonly recommended approach for treating obesity, the study shows that once-weekly interval training with the same total workout time offers similar benefits and is an effective alternative for busy people.
The opening day of PBC 2026 took place at West Kowloon Cultural District today (7 September). Convened by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in association with the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), the two-day forum brings together some 2,000 delegates and leaders from the worlds of philanthropy, sport, business, government, academia and the social sector to explore the transformation, challenges and opportunities shaping philanthropy today.
Marking the event’s 10th anniversary and as one of the highlights of the Club’s Year of the Horse campaign, PBC 2026 has adopted the theme “Leaping for Impact”. Inspired by the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, and the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality, the forum explores what philanthropy can learn from sport in areas such as discipline, focus, resilience and teamwork. It aims to examine how these qualities can be transformed into a powerful force for philanthropy, generating deeper and more enduring social impact. The Trust has long sought to transform lives and strengthen communities through the power of sport. This aligns with the National 15th Five-Year Plan’s emphasis on talent cultivation, youth development and the advancement of a strong and healthy sporting nation.
Officiating at the forum’s opening ceremony was HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki; the Club’s Chairman The Hon Martin Liao; and Club CEO and IoP Director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
The Commission on Asian Philanthropy launched its Interim Report during the forum. The Club CEO and IoP Director, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre), together with Commissioners from The Commission on Asian Philanthropy, pose for a group photo.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki said, “The Hong Kong SAR Government is fully committed to raising our city as a global centre for philanthropy. Under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, and as a bridge between East and West, we are uniquely positioned to deploy global capital for the greater good.” He added, “With our enabling tax regime, dedicated family office strategy, and our unwavering commitment to doing good, we can make a difference for you and your philanthropic legacy. This year’s Forum is the perfect place to start.”
HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.
Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao said, “Including this year, PBC will have engaged more than 10,000 participants over the past decade and featured more than 380 speakers from over 40 countries and regions – making it one of the world’s largest philanthropic assemblies. PBC 2026 examines the need for systems change, new approaches to capital and the capabilities required to deliver impact. It explores how cross-sector collaboration and multi-stakeholder partnerships can drive sustainable and lasting outcomes. Together, these contributions reflect PBC’s continuing role as a platform for sharing ideas, advancing understanding and connecting leaders around the practical solutions needed to address the challenges of our time.”
Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.
He mentioned that the Club and its Charities Trust today officially released the first edition of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Impact Report, detailing the many ways in which the Club has improved lives and strengthened communities since its earliest recorded donation in 1915. The Club has developed a new three-tierhierarchical measurement framework, evaluating impact at project, programme and Trust levels.
Honorary President for Life of the International Olympic Committee Dr Thomas Bach delivers a video address at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.
The report highlights three key insights. First, resources should be more precisely targeted towards the most marginalised and underserved populations to maximise the impact of philanthropy. Second, initiatives should be designed with long-term sustainability in mind, delivering intensive and sustained interventions that empower beneficiaries to achieve lasting positive behavioural change. Third, impact measurement must incorporate flexible, prolonged follow-up periods tailored to the life cycle of each programme, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of long-term outcomes. The report sets out the Trust’s approach to impact measurement and illustrates the social impact generated by the many initiatives it has created or supported.
Leading foundations participating in PBC 2026 include the Gates Foundation, The D.H. Chen Foundation, the Lee Hysan Foundation, the Yao Foundation, the Sanofi Foundation, the Tencent Charity Foundation, The Majurity Trust, the Lien Foundation and the Essl Foundation.
The day’s opening keynote was delivered by Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former United Nations Development Programme Administrator, who shared her insights on “A New Era for Philanthropy: Leading Through Complexity.” Moderated by Club Steward The Hon Bernard Chan, the keynote explored the leadership qualities needed for philanthropy in today’s world.
Moderated by Club Steward The Hon Bernard Chan (right), former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former United Nations Development Programme Administrator Helen Clark (left) delivers the opening keynote entitled “A New Era for Philanthropy: Leading Through Complexity”.
One of the forum’s highlight sessions was “Two Playbooks, One Goal: Navigating Social Mobility in Asia’s Twin Cities”, which brought together The Hon Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government, and Tan See Leng, Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy & Industry) & Former Minister for Manpower, Singapore. The conversation was moderated by The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR Government. The discussion focused on how Hong Kong and Singapore as international cities can convert the benefits of economic growth into opportunities for social mobility, creating more pathways for the next generation.
The fourth plenary, entitled “Two Playbooks, One Goal: Navigating Social Mobility in Asia’s Twin Cities”, was moderated by The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR Government (centre). It featured The Hon Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government (left), and Tan See Leng, Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy & Industry) and Former Minister for Manpower, Singapore (right).
Another highlight session, “Expanding the Arena: Philanthropy, Leadership, and Pathways Beyond Sport,” brought together Olympic gold medallists and leading sports figures from the Chinese Mainland – Li Xiaopeng, Deng Yaping, Yang Yang – and 2026 international football tournament referee Ma Ning. The speakers shared how sporting excellence can evolve to shape institutions, nurture emerging talent and widen access to opportunities.
The fifth plenary, entitled “Expanding the Arena: Philanthropy, Leadership, and Pathways Beyond Sport”, featured a discussion between Olympic gold medallists Li Xiaopeng (2nd left), Deng Yaping (1st left) and Yang Yang (2nd right), together with 2026 international football tournament referee Ma Ning (centre).
The Commission on Asian Philanthropy, co-convened by IoP and the Asian Philanthropy Congress (“APHIC”), today launched its Interim Report, presenting the first comprehensive research on the scale and scope of philanthropic ecosystems across participating Asian jurisdictions. The report estimates that domestic philanthropic giving across participating jurisdictions reached US$109 billion in 2024 and could exceed US$1 trillion over the next decade. It highlights how philanthropy in Asia is shaped by everyday giving, business contributions and public investment, and how philanthropic ecosystems can serve as a strategic asset for national development.
The Club’s support for PBC 2026, like all of its charity and community initiatives, is made possible by its unique value creation model through which racing and wagering generate tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for the community.
HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki (front row centre); Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (front row, 5th left); Club Deputy Chairman and IoP Chairman Lester Huang (front row, 4th left); Club Stewards; Club CEO and IoP Director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (front row, 5th right); and Club management pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.
