According to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), there is a current uptrend in regards to obesity among Filipinos.
Nutritionist Salvador Serrano reported around a 50 percent jump in the obesity rate among adults between 1993 and 2013, rising from 16 percent to 31 percent. Among pre-schoolers, there was also a rise from two percent, between 1989 and 1998, to 4.9 percent in 2013.
He said obesity can result in non-communicable diseases like cancer, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, among others, noting it could also make a larger impact on the nation’s economy.
“One can become a less productive citizen reflected by low work productivity,” Serrano explained.
He urged the Filipinos to eat vegetable and fruits and to adhere to Pinggang Pinoy, which provides guidance on what foods to eat according to one’s age. For more information, please visit fnri.dost.gov.ph. /WDJ