This paper examines the impact of education-based botanical hiking on the metabolic health of elderly individuals in Hong Kong. The study sample comprised 60 elderly participants aged between 60 and 70 years. Thirty participants engaged in bi-weekly guided botanical hikes over a four-month period and received weekly health information via WhatsApp. The remaining 30 participants, serving as the control group, continued with their usual care. The investigation focused on metabolic syndrome risk factors, including blood pressure, glucose levels, triglycerides, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lifestyle habits. Data collection involved self-administered questionnaires and metabolic blood tests conducted pre and post-intervention at the start and four-month mark. The findings indicate that education-based botanical hiking can foster healthier lifestyles, enhance health knowledge, and improve dietary choices among participants. However, it did not yield significant improvements in metabolic risk factors such as lipid and glucose levels. The study recommends future research with larger sample sizes and extended durations to explore these effects further.

Authors:
Yanping Wang, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong
Haixia Ma, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong
Ka Man Choi, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong
Hiu Ting Tsang, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Yanping Wang is a Lecturer at the School of Nursing and Health Sciences of the Hong Kong Metropolitan University.

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