To address the problem of overweight and obesity in the region, the Regional Nutrition Committee at the National Capital Region enjoins the local government units in NCR to implement local initiatives for the prevention and management of overweight and obesity through its Resolution No. 3, Series of 2018.

The said resolution was unanimously approved and adopted by members of the RNC during its second regular meeting of the year held on September 21, 2018 presided by RNC Vice Chair and PopCom-NCR Regional Director Mr. Lydio M. Español, Jr.

Overweight and obesity increase the risk of an individual to cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, various forms of cancer and musculoskeletal disorders like arthritis. Overnutrition also poses risk to having hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, breathing problems and liver and gallbladder diseases.

Based on the 2013 National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-FNRI), prevalence of overweight and obesity in the country has been steadily increasing in the last two decades for all age groups with the prevalence almost doubled from 16.6% in 1993 to 31.1% in 2013 among adults and from less than 2% in 1989 to 4.9% in 2013 among preschool children.

Likewise, results of the 2015 Updating Survey on the Nutritional Status of Filipinos conducted by DOST-FNRI revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children under 5 years old (6.0%) and 5-10 years old children (17.9%) in the National Capital Region (NCR) are both higher than the national prevalence at 3.9% and 8.6% for children under 5 years old and among 5-10 years old, respectively.

It was observed in the same survey that prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents (16.1%) and adults 20 years old and above (37.7%) are also higher than the national prevalence of 9.2% in adolescents and 31.1% among adults 20 years old and above.

The problem of overweight and obesity among various population groups especially among adults was also identified in the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 as one of the nutrition problems that needs to be addressed.

Recognizing the increasing problem of overweight and obesity in the National Capital Region, the RNC recommended projects and activities for the LGUs to vigorously implement as part of the local nutrition action plans (LNAP) to prevent and control overweight and obesity. The activities were categorized under the healthy food environment, promotion of desirable infant and young child feeding practices, promotion of healthy lifestyle and weight management intervention.

The RNC believes that by implementing these initiatives, there will be no further increase in overweight and obesity among children less than 10 years old and reduction on the prevalence among adolescents and adults will be achieved. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)