The 2022 celebration of Filipino Elderly Week urges older persons to exercise and eat right to maintain a healthy body. An older person is defined by the United Nations as a person who is over 60 years of age. Older persons are important members of society and make significant contributions through their wisdom, skills, knowledge and expertise.
Filipino Elderly Week is celebrated every first week of October by Proclamation No. 470 which establishes the obligation of the country to secure the well-being of the older population. Spearheaded by the National Commission of Senior Citizens, this year’s theme is Older Persons: Resilience for Nation-Building.
As resilience is influenced by multiple factors, the celebration focuses on the Seven Cs of Resilience by author Irwin Allen Ginsberg. It composes of Confidence, Contribution, Coping, Control, Connection, Character, and Competence. Good health in the same way results in a resilient individual. For instance, healthy older persons continue to be productive despite their age.
According to the 2020 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority, older people have a total population of 9.22 million which increased since 2015. The same trend is expected in the coming years. In addition, as stated by the World Health Organization, by 2030, 1 in 6 people in the world will be aged 60 years or over.
In the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey conducted by DOST – Food and Nutrition Research Institute, 50.6% of the older person population are physically inactive, and overweight and obese cases have increased. Older people may not just suffer from overweight and obesity but also from degenerative diseases such as diabetes, heart-related ailments, arthritis, and osteoporosis among others.
Having this situation, the Department of Health in celebration of the Filipino Elderly Week promotes the “move more, eat right” habit from its Healthy Pilipinas campaign. The promotion encourages older persons to have a balanced diet and enough exercise. Also, they are encouraged to practice these behaviors to prevent obesity and lifestyle diseases:
- Follow the Pinggang Pinoy specific for older people. Eat whole grains to lower the risk of health problems, consume milk and its by-products for stronger teeth and bones, enjoy fiber-rich foods and drink lots of water
- Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes; bike, walk or jog
- Read your food labels and understand nutrition information to make smart food choices
- Avoid trans-fat, sugar-sweetened beverages, and excessive salt intake to prevent chronic diseases
Older persons should get vaccinated against COVID-19, pneumococcal diseases, and flu. They should live a healthy lifestyle, move more and eat right for a stronger body.
Written by: DMO II Mary Anne P. Padilla and NPC Milagros Elisa V. Federizo
Sources:
- https://ageingasia.org/
- https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/hsd/pressrelease/1_Press%20Release%20on_Age%20Sex_RML_18July22_rev_mpe_RRDH_CRD-signed.pdf
- https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Press%20Release%20PNHA%20Indicators_signed.pdf
- https://www.healthypilipinas.ph/campaigns/healthy-habits/move-more-eat-right
- https://marketmonitor.com.ph/celebrating-the-elderly-filipino-week/https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
