Obesity highest in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Obesity among Filipinos is highest in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), according to the National Nutrition Council (NNC).

 Cordillerans consume 940 grams a day compared to the national average food intake of 844 grams, Rita Papey, NNC-CAR nutrition program coordinator, said, citing a recent study.

“Food intake is higher here because there’s a lot to eat,” Papey said.

 The food intake of Northern Mindanao residents is lowest at an average of 783 grams.   

Up to 50 percent of households in the Cordilleras produce their own cereal or have their own vegetable gardens or farms, Papey noted. 

She said intake of energy food is also highest in CAR at 2,500 kilocalories compared to 1,800 in the national level.

CAR has the lowest consumption of fish, she said. “Between meat and fish, we choose meat and other food for cultural reasons,” Papey said. 

The NNC said non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes is high in CAR because of its high obesity rate.

Papey said nutritional stunting in the region is three times higher than the national average.

The NNC said Cordillerans should eat more fish and control their diet to prevent health problems.