Two out of every five Filipino adults aged 20 to 59 are overweight, according to experts.
This puts them at high risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
According to public health advocates, the rise in obesity has significantly increased the likelihood of Filipinos developing diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and chronic kidney disease, making it a matter of life and death to address this issue promptly.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Healthy Philippines Alliance (HPA) has urged the Marcos administration to take immediate action to make healthier food options more accessible to the population.
Calorie intake
Jennina Duatin, a trustee of Diabetes Philippines and a member of the Healthy Philippines Alliance (HPA), emphasized the importance of being mindful of calorie intake to avoid weight gain. She highlighted that excessive calorie consumption can have detrimental effects on health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity rates have more than doubled among adults worldwide since 1990 and quadrupled among children and adolescents aged 5 to 19.
In the Philippines, the prevalence of overweight and obese adults has surged by 166 percent, reaching 34.6 percent in 2022.
Similarly, among children and adolescents, there has been a staggering 356-percent increase, rising to 14.6 percent in 2022.
These alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for measures to address the growing obesity epidemic.
Unhealthy foods
The significant rise in obesity rates can be attributed to the widespread availability of unhealthy ultra-processed foods, which are both cheaper and easier to prepare.
These products typically contain excessive amounts of sugar, sodium, and fats.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the importance of addressing obesity from early life to adulthood through diet, physical activity, and adequate healthcare.
Achieving this requires collaboration between governments, communities, and the private sector, with the latter being held accountable for the health impact of their products.
One effective measure is mandating nutrition labeling to enable consumers to make informed choices.
This includes providing information on total calorie content, as well as the breakdown of fats and salt, helping consumers understand the potential health risks associated with overconsumption.
The WHO proposed that the food industry should be mandated to reduce the fat, sugar, and salt content of processed foods, ensuring that healthier options are both available and affordable to all consumers.
Maria Fatima Villena, a board member of The Policy Center and another HPA member, commended the government's decision to increase taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages as a step in the right direction to reduce consumption.
Additionally, following the "Pinggang Pinoy" plate model from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute can be an effective strategy to prevent obesity.
This model recommends filling half of the plate with fresh fruits and vegetables, a quarter with whole grains, and the remaining portion with a healthy source of protein such as meat, fish, legumes, or seafood.
“Moderation, variety, and balance in food choices are key factors in preventing overweight and obesity,” Duatin said
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