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Health tips for World Cup fans

11 June 2014

Soccer fans are reminded to stay health-conscious while watching games in the World Cup, which kicks off on June 13 (Hong Kong time).

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said today (June 11) that even though some football fans love crispy snacks (such as potato chips and fried food), sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages while watching the matches, it is important to maintain healthy eating, get sufficient sleep, refrain from using tobacco and comply with the smoking ban, as well as avoid alcohol consumption.

"Insufficient sleep can lower your immunity and make you prone to illnesses. It will also affect your work performance and increase risks of accidents and injury," the spokesman said.

Following are some tips for soccer fans to stay healthy while enjoying the international event:

Eat smartly:

• Have three regular meals a day and do not substitute them by snacking.
• Consume snacks only when you are hungry. Do not snack for the sake of snacking. 
• Choose fresh fruits as your snacks to achieve the daily target of having at least two servings of fruit every day.
• Choose healthier snacks such as baked potato chips, baked sweet potato chips, corn chips, unsalted nuts and low-fat popcorn, and eat in moderation.
• Limit fatty and sugary snacks (such as potato chips, shrimp strips and buttered popcorn).
• Drink plenty of water or prepare a delicious and refreshing drink at home (such as home-made lemonade by mixing the lime and soda water together) instead of beer and soft drinks if you do not want extra calories.

Stay away from tobacco and alcohol:

• Avoid alcoholic beverages.
• Never drink and drive. Use public transport or get a trusted person to take you home if you drink.
• As both active and passive smoking are hazardous to health, refrain from smoking and encourage family members or friends to quit smoking.
• When you feel like smoking, wash your face, do stretching exercises, try deep breathing and drink water to divert your attention from the urge.

Do not forget:

• Ensure good indoor ventilation.
• Stretch and move around while watching the matches.
• Sit properly while watching a soccer match to avoid muscle aches afterwards.
• Make sure you have enough sleep. Insufficient sleep can lower your immunity and make you more prone to illnesses, affect your working performance and increase risks of accidents and injury.
• Reserve time to do some exercise.
• Strike a balance between watching matches and fulfilling your social commitments.

In addition, the spokesman said that during the World Cup period, smoke-free ambassadors from the DH's Tobacco Control Office (TCO) will visit pubs and bars to promote soccer fans' compliance with the smoking ban in indoor public places. The TCO has also sent out letters to venue managers of bars to remind them to implement smoke-free measures in their indoor public places so as to safeguard the health of staff and customers.

Members of the public can call the DH's health education hotline 2833 0111 and the DH's Integrated Smoking Cessation hotline 1833 183, or visit the Centre for Health Protection's website at www.chp.gov.hk, the Central Health Education Unit's website at www.cheu.gov.hk and the TCO's website at www.tco.gov.hk for more information.