Winning the Scale or Winning at Life?

Renato Marques

Recently, the government has launched a “weight loss challenge” to capture public attention on healthy lifestyles and the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight.

Participants competed to shed kilograms, and social media has been filled with before-and-after photos celebrating more or less visible transformations.

The excitement is contagious, and for many, these challenges motivate them to take the first step toward better health. Yet once the challenge ends, a familiar pattern often emerges. Old eating habits return, exercise routines fade, and the weight gradually returns.

This raises an important question: should we continue to focus on short-term weight-loss competitions, or should we invest more in helping residents adopt healthier lifestyles for life?

Weight loss, while important for those who are overweight or obese, is only one indicator of health. A person can lose weight through extreme dieting, skipping meals, or unsustainable exercise regimens, only to regain the weight weeks or months later. Such an approach may improve numbers on a scale in the short term but do little to improve long-term physical and mental well-being.

Macau enjoys one of the world’s highest life expectancy rates, ranging from 83.5 to 85 years old. However, its fast-paced economy, casino-driven workforce, long working hours, and food culture (which often relies on takeout) can encourage sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits. Shift workers often struggle with irregular meal times and disrupted sleep, while families increasingly rely on convenient processed foods delivered to their homes rather than home-cooked meals.

Against this backdrop, healthy living should not be viewed as a seasonal campaign but as a necessary cultural shift.

Instead of asking who can lose the most weight in three months, perhaps we should ask who can maintain regular physical activity throughout the year. Instead of rewarding rapid weight loss, we should recognize those who consistently participate in wellness activities.

Healthy lifestyles include good nutrition, adequate sleep, stress management, regular exercise, smoking cessation, moderate alcohol consumption, and good mental health. These habits work together to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and certain cancers.

Another important aspect is inclusivity. Weight-loss challenges can unintentionally discourage older adults, people living with certain disabilities, or those managing chronic illnesses from joining, as they fear being unable to achieve results.

Health should not be measured solely by kilograms lost but, for instance, by lowering blood pressure, improving overall fitness, managing stress more effectively, or simply by committing to walking every day or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Achieving meaningful progress does not necessarily mean that the scale moves significantly.

Macau has demonstrated the ability to mobilize; the next step is to build environments that make healthy choices easier. More pedestrian-friendly spaces, accessible cycling routes, affordable recreational facilities, healthier restaurant options, nutrition education in schools, and workplace wellness initiatives could have a lasting impact far beyond any competition.

Technology also plays an important role. Fitness apps, wearable devices, and community support groups help people track progress and stay motivated without the pressure of competing against others. The emphasis shifts from beating someone else’s score to becoming a healthier version of oneself.

The key should be to ensure that initiatives of this kind emphasize education, behavioral change, and long-term support rather than rapid results. Success should be measured by how many healthy habits participants maintain after the initial motivational boost ends.

Losing weight changes a number, maybe a size, but adopting a healthy lifestyle changes the course of a lifetime.