National Nutrition Council-7 launches Nutrition Month

CEBU, Philippines — This year’s Nutrition Month kicked off yesterday carrying the theme, “Kumain nang wasto at maging aktibo...push natin ‘to!”

The National Nutrition Council-7, in cooperation with SM Seaside City Cebu, officially launched the event with a Nutri Fun Walk, Zumba, Move-Eat Fair, and the Amazing Nutri Race, among others, which was participated in by students, barangay health workers and government employees.

The participants pledged to support this year’s advocacy of eating right and engage in more physical activities and reduce sedentary lifestyle.

“Pushing the advocacy means that each and everyone can contribute to better nutrition and physical activity for a better health,” said NNC-7 regional nutrition program coordinator Parolita “Letlet” Mission.

Nutrition officials who graced the event encouraged everyone to advocate and realize the importance of healthy diet and exercise.

“With the rise of overweight and obesity and the non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases and diet-related cancers associated  with it, the NNC zeroed in on healthy diet and physical activity as the focus of this year’s observance of Nutrition Month,” said Mission.

Mission added that the Nutrition Month campaign aims to encourage the food industry including farmers, manufacturers, distributors and food establishments to produce and make available healthier food options as well as advocate for the enactment of national and local legislation/policies and policies at the workplace, school and other venues that are supportive of an enabling environment for healthy diets and physical activity.

“This launching event will jumpstart the regional activities that would put flesh to the theme and push healthy diet and physical activity not only today or the month of July, but throughout the year,” Mission added.

Meanwhile, NNC’s social media campaign #ZumbAktibo Dance Challenge aimed at promoting dance as physical activity was also launched.

Nutrition Month is an annual campaign celebrated every year by virtue of Presidential Decree 491 in 1974 in order to create greater awareness on the importance of nutrition among Filipinos.

NNC is mandated under this law to coordinate and lead the nationwide campaign. (FREEMAN)