ECONOMIC DOWNTURNSARS Presenter: Dr Robert Chung Director, Public Opinion Programme, University of Hong Kong June 26, 2003 “Changing Eating Habits Of The White- Collars - Under Economic Stress and SARS” An Attitudinal Survey

THE SURVEY OBJECTIVE While SARS has come to an end, WHO alerts that Hong Kong people still needs to be vigilant for future outbreak. With the economy spiraling downwards, the need to eat healthily with limited budget has become a challenge for the Hong Kong people who want to stay healthy. The survey aims at understanding how people adjust their eating behavior, and offering useful suggestions to help them stay healthy in the midst of hardship.

SURVEY OVERVIEW ObjectiveTo understand the eating habits of Hong Kong’s white-collars under economic stress and SARS Targets18-49 years old white-collars, with habits of eating breakfast and lunch DateMay 29, June 3, 2003 OrganizationPublic Opinion Programme, University of Hong Kong MethodTelephone interview through random sampling Successful response511 people Success rate73.1% Sampling errorLess than 2.2%

SURVEY RESULTS

WHITE-COLLAR’S JOB-RELATED STRESS UNDER ECONOMIC DOWNTURN & SARS

ALMOST 60% White-collars Have Higher Job-Related Stress Compared To A Year Ago Successful samples: 510 No Difference Work Pressure Higher Than Before Less Work Pressure Than Before 1% Don’t Know/Hard To Tell

More Than Half Of The White-Collars Are Paying More Attention To Healthy Diet Because Of SARS Successful samples: 511 No Difference Pay More Attention Than Before <1% Pay less Attention Than Before <1% Don’t Know/Hard To Tell

DO WHITE-COLLARS CONSIDER THEMSELEVS EATING HEALTHILY?

76% White-Collars Consider Themselves Eating Healthily For Breakfast Successful samples: 511 Healthy Not Healthy Don’t Know/Hard To Tell

71% Consider Themselves Eating Healthily For Lunch Successful samples: 511 Healthy Not Healthy Don’t Know/Hard To Tell

BREAKFAST BEHAVIOUR

Almost 60% White-Collars Eat Ready-Made Breakfast From Stores Successful samples: 511 Buy breakfas t at food stores: 58%

Bread Is The Most Frequently Consumed Breakfast At Home Successful samples: 200 (Eat breakfast at home) Can choose more than one answer: 773

60% Of Those Who Have Breakfast At Home Do Not Drink Skimmed Milk Successful samples:103 (Breakfast at home +drink milk) Skimmed Milk Low Fat Milk Cream Milk 5% Don’t Know/Hard To Tell

Bread With Stuffing/Sandwich Is The Most Common Breakfast Of the White- Collars While Eating Out Successful samples: 293(Eat breakfast away from home) Can choose more than one answer: 1,086

For Those Who Eat At Home And Consider Themselves Eating Healthily Will Eat The Following Twice+/Week Successful samples: 182 (Breakfast at home + consider themselves eating healthily)

For Those Who Eat Breakfast Away From Home Or Carry-out, And Consider Themselves Eating Healthily, Their Breakfast Include: Successful samples: 195 (Breakfast away from home or carry-out + consider themselves eating healthily)

White-Collars’ Breakfast Behavior Summary 60% are eating ready-made breakfast from stores. Bread is the most commonly consumed food for breakfast, whether prepared at home or bought from stores. Over 70% consider themselves eating healthily for breakfast; yet they are eating a lot of unhealthy food such as low fiber loaf/rolls, high fat, high cholesterol sandwich, fried eggs, canned meat, sausage, etc. Comparatively, for those who are eating breakfast at home, they are choosing much healthier food.

WHITE-COLLAR’S LUNCH BEHAVIOUR

65% White-Collars Are Eating Out Or Buying Carry-Out For Lunch Successful samples: 511 5% Eating Out/Carry- Out Packed Lunch Don’t Know/Hard To Tell 5%

EATING OUT FOR LUNCH: AN ANALYSIS

70% Who Are Eating Out Frequent Local Tea Restaurants/Fast Food Stores For Lunch Successful samples: 334 (eating out for lunch) Can choose more than one answer: 531

Almost Half Of Them Are Eating High Fat Meat Such As Spare Ribs, Beef Briskets, And Chicken Wings For Lunch Successful samples: 334 (eating out for lunch) Can choose more than one answer: 1,005

For Those Who Are Eating Out/Buying Carry- Out And Consider Themselves Eating Healthily, Their Lunch Include A Lot of Meat Successful samples: 210 (eating out for lunch + consider themselves eating healthily)

Almost 40% Who Are Eating Out And Take Chicken For Lunch Are Eating The Skin As Well Successful samples: 243 (eating out + eat chicken) Chicken Meat Without Skin Chicken Meat With Skin 4% Don’t Know/Hard To Tell

White-Collars’ Packed Lunch Includes Rice/Noodle/Bread, Vegetable, Meat Successful sample ： 154(packed lunch) Can choose more than one answer ： 606

Half Of Them Include Chicken Wings In Their Lunch Box At Least Once A Week Successful samples: 154 (packed lunch) Can choose more than one answer: 440

For Those Who Pack Lunch And Eat Chicken, 30% Eat The Skin As Well Successful samples: 101 (pack lunch + eat chicken) Chicken Without Skin Chicken With Skin 8% Don’t Know/Hard To Tell

For Those Who Pack Lunch and Consider Themselves Eating Healthily, Their Lunch Include A Lot Of Meat Successful samples: 131 (pack lunch + consider eating healthily)

White-Collars’ Lunch Behavior Summary 30% bring their own lunch; 70% eat outside or buy carry-out at local tea restaurants/fast food stores. High fat meat accounts for a major share of their lunch (e.g. chicken wings, spare ribs, beef briskets, canned meat, fried fish, etc). Packed lunch also contains a lot of high fat meat (e.g. chicken wings). 70% consider themselves eating healthily. In fact, they are eating a lot of unhealthy, high fat food.

THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC STRESS & SARS ON WHITE-COLLAR’S EATING BEHAVIOUR

¼ White-Collars Are Spending Less On Meals Than One Year Ago Successful samples: 511 6% 25% 68% Spending Less No Difference Spending More <1% Don’t Know/Hard To Tell

30% Have Changed Their Choice Of Food Over The Past Year Successful samples: 511 Choice Of Food Changed No Change

70% White-Collars Demand Balanced Diets Successful samples: 163 (those who have changed choice of food) Can choose more than one answer:175

16% Skip Lunch And Shift To Cheaper Afternoon Tea Successful samples: 511 Skip Lunch, Shift To Afternoon Tea Menu No 2% Don’t Know/Hard To Tell

WHITE COLLARS WANT HEALTHIER DIETS

Over 60% White-Collars Consider Food At Restaurants Unhealthy Successful samples: 511 Healthy Unhealthy Don’t Know /Hard To Tell

Of Those Who Consider Food At Restaurants Unhealthy, They Said The Food There Is Too Greasy Successful samples: 311 (consider food at restaurants unhealthy) Can choose more than one answer: 553 (Including Too Much Salt, Artificial Colouring, Sugar, Not Fresh Enough, Not Enough Nutrition, Portion Too Large, etc)

Over 80% Consider Eating Out Too Frequently Will Lead To Health Problems Successful samples: 511 Eating out too often will lead to health problems No Don’t Know/Hard To Tell 6%

High Cholesterol And Over-weight Are The Main Health Problems Successful samples: 415 (consider eating out frequently will lead to health problems) Can choose more than one answer: 1,147

56% White-Collars Consider There Is A Lack Of Healthy Choice While Eating Out/Buying Carry-Out successful samples: 511 Not enough Enough Choices Doesn’t Matter Adjust By Themselves 7% Don’t Know /Hard To Tell

Almost 80% Indicate A Willingness To Change Their Eating Habits For The Sake Of Health Successful samples: 510 Willing To Change Not Willing 7% Don’t Know/Hard To Tell

CONCLUSION

White-Collars Are Eating High-Fat, Low- Fiber Food Which Is Harmful To Health White-collars have experienced more job-related stress under the economic downturn and SARS. As a result, they have become more health-conscious. White-collars demand cheaper, healthy diets. White-collars are setting higher standard for healthy, balanced diets, and are willing to change their eating behavior for the sake of good health.

Let’s Maintain A Healthy Body Together We Can Endure The Hardship Thrifty as they are, white-collars are still looking for healthy (low fat) diets. They are dissatisfied with greasy food at restaurants, and are fully aware of the high cholesterol, over-weight and heart problems associated with it. How to strike a balance between a tight budget and a healthy eating need has become a key challenge for them. A balanced diet, with a regular intake of high-fiber, low-fat food such as fruit, vegetable, white meat, oats, etc, are more important than expensive health supplements. Restaurants can provide economical and healthy food, and help Hong Kong people to stay healthy in order to survive through the economic hardship.

The End