Physical activity research in Hong Kong from 1987 to 2012: evidence on children and adolescents

A comprehensive understanding of research on the physical activity (PA) of Hong Kong youth is necessary to develop specific and effective intervention strategies. This review summarizes existing evidence in studies on PA among the Hong Kong youth. An electronic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, ERIC, and HighWire database. Forty-five studies published from 1987 to 2012 were included in this review. The findings are presented in five categories, namely, health benefits of PA, participation in PA, assessment of PA, correlates of PA, and interventions to promote PA. The results indicate that PA among the youth in Hong Kong has attracted concern in the past decade. Specifically, extensive studies focused on the areas of health benefits of PA, participation in PA, and correlates of PA. Research into context-specific correlates of PA and tailored PA promotion programs for the Hong Kong youth is warranted in the future.