The Hong Kong charity helping neurodivergent people eat better, exercise more and belong

A balanced diet benefits everyone, but it is especially important for the neurodiverse community, according to Love 21 Foundation, a Hong Kong charity dedicated to improving their physical and mental health.The foundation is one of 13 NGOs selected to receive funding from this year’s Operation Santa Claus (OSC) charity campaign.With its second consecutive year of support for a three-year funded project, the charity will be able to continue offering personalised nutrition plans and tailored fitness training to help around 100 of its members each year who have Down syndrome, autism, or other neurodiverse conditions.People with Down syndrome have a slower metabolism, putting them at higher risk of gaining weight. Autistic people, meanwhile, tend to have elevated levels of uric acid in their blood, which can lead to gout or kidney stones.They were especially in need of advice on food choices and portion sizes, according to Matthew Fung Kwan-kit, Love 21’s dietitian.“Most of the charity’s members are overweight or obese when they first join the programme,” Fung said.