“The Department of Health recognizes the emerging problem of childhood overweight and obesity in the country and although its prevalence pales in comparison with that of undernutrition, it will be unfortunate to prejudice the public health attention it deserves to mitigate its future risk on non-communicable diseases, premature death and disability in adulthood. These findings from the FNRI study, together with new studies and recommendations for action, will be shared during a dissemination forum on March 4, 2021. There is a higher rate of overweight and obese children in urban areas than in rural areas and higher prevalence of several risk factors and environmental conditions could rapidly increase the rates. Among Filipino adolescents, overweight has tripled in the last 15 years. Results from the Expanded National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) in 2019 reported a relatively low prevalence of overweight at 2.9% among children under 5 years old medium prevalence of 9.1% and 9.8% among children aged 5 to 10 years old and 10 to 19 years old, respectively. Prevention remains to be the most feasible option for curbing the childhood obesity epidemic. In addition, limited physical activity is likewise contributing to the growing problem on overweight and obesity. Factors contributing to the increasing problem of overweight and obesity include poor diets, inadequate nutrition, and failing food systems. Obese children and adolescents may also suffer from both short-term and long-term health consequences. MANILA, 4 March 2021 – With the Philippines suffering from a triple burden of malnutrition together with other forms of undernutrition (including stunting and wasting), micronutrient deficiencies, along with overweight and obesity, the Department of Health (DOH), National Nutrition Council (NNC), FAO, WHO, and UNICEF jointly call upon the public, civil society organizations, academe, and the private sector to take action to prevent and manage childhood overweight and obesity.Īccording to WHO, overweight and obese children are more likely to stay obese into adulthood and to develop noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age.
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