Some 68 percent of Macao residents disagree with the assumption that slimness equals beauty, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

The survey, jointly launched by the Macao New Generation Association and the University of Hong Kong, interviewed 555 respondents in the special administrative region with a population of over 460,000.

It showed that merely 3 percent of the respondents have tried to lose weight in fitness centers or beauty parlors.

Fifty-four percent of the respondents said they would try to lose weight only if they proved to "be fatter than others," according to the survey.

Another 13 percent said they will try to lose weight if it is generally regarded as "a fashion trend."

(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2005)