Public urged to prioritize childhood obesity prevention

CEBU, Philippines — Poor diets, failing food systems, and lack of physical activity are causing overweight and obesity among Filipino children.

In line with this, five government agencies and private organizationsare calling on the public to change the way overweight and obesity is viewed by society and become advocates for change for healthy food environments and policies that prioritize obesity as a serious health issue.

These five are the Department of Health, the National Nutrition Council, the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

In statement released by NNC, quoting WHO,it said that overweight and obese children are more likely to stay obese into adulthood and to develop non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age.

In Central Visayas, data released by NNC-7 regional program coordinator, Dr. Parolita Mission, show that it has around 10,000 children ages zero to five years old that are overweight based on the 2020 Operation Timbang Plus.

NNC stated that limited physical activity is contributing to the growing problem of overweight and obesity as prevention remains to be the most feasible option for curbing the childhood obesity epidemic.

Results from the Expanded National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in 2019 reported that 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.

DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said that the department recognizes the emerging problem of childhood overweight and obesity in the country.

Duque said that although its prevalence pales in comparison with that of under-nutrition, 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.

“To prevent obesity, we need to start early, that is in the First 1000 Days of life when we could also prevent under-nutrition, which could also result in obesity in later life,” said NNC executive director, Dr. Azucena Dayanghirang.

Dayanghirang said that the economic costs of this escalating problem are considerable both in terms of the enormous financial strains it will place on the health care system and lost economic productivity.

Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, UNICEF Representative in the Philippines said that they remain committed to support health and nutrition initiatives for every child, especially the most vulnerable.

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative in the Philippines, said that from a public health, economic and moral perspective, it is imperative for the government and the whole of society to act on this issue of childhood overweight and obesity.

“Curbing the childhood obesity epidemic requires political commitment at all levels, and the collaboration of many public and private stakeholders,” Abeyasinghe added.

Kati Tanninen, FAO Representative to the Philippines, said that maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet is especially important at this time of a pandemic.

Tanninen added that FAO is supporting the national government through the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022, adding policy measures related to food systems that support healthy diets should be enforced.

The NNC is leading the multi-sectoral Overweight and Obesity Management and Prevention Program of the PPAN 2017-2022.

“The PPAN targets no further increase in child obesity by 2022 by fostering a healthy food environment and promoting positive nutrition behaviors towards consumption of healthier diets,” Dayanghirang further said. — GMR (FREEMAN)