Overweight, obesity still high: Survey

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Despite the decline in the prevalence of undernutrition, particularly stunting and wasting, over the years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity across life stages, a triple burden of malnutrition, according to the National Nutrition Council (NNC) during the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023-2028 dissemination in Cagayan de Oro City. 

This is based on the 2015, 2018–2019, and 2021 national nutrition surveys conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). 

“Not only are we experiencing malnutrition, but we also have to contend with hunger and food insecurity,” said Gladys Mae Fernandez, regional nutrition coordinator of NNC-10.

Given these challenges, the PPAN was developed and serves as a strategic blueprint in the nation's fight against malnutrition and food insecurity. 

Interventions for this cycle of the PPAN to achieve healthier diets would include those that would improve the affordability of food either by increasing the food supply or improving food distribution; interventions that would increase the availability of nutrient-dense and fortified foods; and those that would increase the availability of food from household, school, and community sources. 

Further, all pregnant and lactating women and children, particularly in Geographically Isolated Disadvantaged Areas, should receive integrated and quality maternal and child nutrition and health services.

In the region, among the identified top 34 PPAN priority areas are Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte provinces.

The PPAN priority areas are based on the magnitude of stunting among 0 to 59-month-old children (malnutrition), the magnitude of the population with households with per capita income below the food poverty threshold (food insecurity), and economic capacity. 

"We envision that we will all converge in these areas to make substantial improvements in our nutrition outcomes," Fernandez said. 

According to the Social Weather Stations’ Survey on Hunger, 10.4%, or about 2.7 million Filipino families, experienced involuntary hunger due to a lack of food. Although there is a decrease from the December 2022 levels of 11.8% (3 million Filipino families), these values are still higher than the 8.8% hunger rate prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The highest hunger incidence was recorded in Metro Manila, with 15.7%, or 4.1 million Filipino families, having no food to eat, followed by Luzon (11.3%), Visayas (9.3%), and Mindanao (6.3%). 

In contrast to hunger, which is the uncomfortable or painful sensation caused by insufficient consumption of dietary energy, food insecurity is defined as "the lack of regular access to enough, safe, and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life,” said Fernandez. 

The 2022 Expanded National Nutrition Survey of DOST-FNRI used the Food Insecurity Experience Scale to assess levels of household food insecurity. 

Results showed that 3 out of 10 (33.4%) households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, while 2 out of 100 (2.0%) households experienced severe food insecurity. This means that food-insecure households are either compromising on food quality and variety, reducing food quantity, skipping meals, or having no food to consume at all for a day or more. 

The PPAN’s goal is to reduce the five major nutrition and related problems across life stages, including undernutrition, overnutrition, micronutrient deficiency, inadequate infant and young child feeding practices, and food insecurity. 

The strategic framework of PPAN 2023–2028 aligns with the national development goals, targeting malnutrition reduction through a life-stage approach. It emphasizes healthier diets, better practices, and improved access to quality services. (Jasper Marie O. Rucat)