Overweight and obesity exacerbate the burden of malnutrition in the country, together with the problems of undernutrition which include stunting and wasting. With this, national and global government agencies are calling for synergism among the public, civil society organizations, academe, and the public sector in acting upon the prevention and management of overweight and obesity, especially among children.
A healthy diet is very important, especially for children. According to Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, UNICEF Representative in the Philippines, children who do not observe healthy diets and practice little exercise are increasingly prone to depression, underperforming at school and learning, and are more susceptible of having debilitating diseases like diabetes when they grow older. Also, we can fight obesity with public health tools to promote healthy diet and physical activity, financial and regulatory tools to make healthy diets more accessible and affordable, and clinical tools to provide quality care for children and adults who live with obesity as stated by Dr. Rajenda Prasad Yadav, acting WHO Representative in the Philippines.
In 2016, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute-DOST launched the ‘Pinggang Pinoy’, a food guide for various population and physiologic groups to help Filipinos acquire healthy eating habits for them to attain optimum nutrition. Below is a sample one-day meal plan for children ages 3-12:
- Breakfast: fried egg, camote tops salad with tomatoes, rice, and banana;
- AM Snack: Suman;
- Lunch: chicken tinola with green papaya and malunggay, rice, and mango;
- PM Snack: boiled camote; with 1 glass of milk daily and 5 or more glasses of water throughout the day; and
- Dinner: fried galunggong, pinakbet, rice, and watermelon.
Children with specific health conditions are recommended to be brought to a registered nutritionist-dietitian or any health care provider for consultation regarding their energy and nutrient needs based on the findings of their medical doctor. Furthermore, children should consume at least 400 grams of vegetables and fruits per day excluding starchy roots, have less than 10% of total energy intake from free sugars, less than 30% of total energy from fats (less than 10% of total energy intake from saturated fats and less than 1% of total energy intake from trans-fat), and have less than 5 grams of salt (one teaspoon) intake per day.
Not only a healthy diet will prevent obesity but also physical activities. The Philippine National Guideline for Physical Activity (PNGPA) recommends exercising at least 30-60 minutes daily. Moreover, one should maintain his/her normal body mass index (BMI).The following are recommendations on integrating physical activity into one’s daily routine in various areas:
a) Home: Involve the entire family in doing household chores, give children toys that will promote physical activity, and regulate the screen time of children to no more than 2 hours a day.
b) School: Include activities that will enable children to move and learn at the same time; encourage students to become active by ensuring safe playgrounds, holding sports clinics, and school-wide physical activity.
c) Work: Have active transport, form groups or clubs, have an enabling environment, and formulate policies on fitness and wellness.
Source: Nutrition Month 2020; https://www.unicef.org/philippines/press-releases/everybody-needs-act-curb-obesity
Bella M. Basalong
