Tuguegarao City--- “Overweight or obese adolescents are more likely to have low self-esteem or worse, be bullied,” says Ms. Frances Vea Valdez, Nutrition Officer II, as she inspire participants during the Launching of Baywang Watch Challenge Kids’ Edition in Celebration of Heart Month 2020 last month in Santiago City.

It is worrying that obesity among children is growing, not just here in our country but worldwide. According to many researches, many more people are now overweight than 15 years ago, and this is observed in both sexes and all ages including children.

It is observed that there is a decline in physical activity among children. They rely more on cars as transportation than walking and biking. Also, sedentary entertainment such as increased screen time, video games and computers are more preferred than recreational sports. All day surfing and video plays are much easier and convenient mode of entertainment than playing “tumbang preso”, “Patintero” and other classic street games. Thinking of these, it is really sad that these children would not experience the joy that “patintero and tumbang preso” can give.

Also, nowadays, children overindulge to unhealthy foods due to proliferation of fast food chains and street foods. These are more preferred because, obviously, they are much yummier than a piece of bread.

Hence, the Santiago City Nutrition Committee launched its Baywang Watch Challenge Kids’ Edition in Celebration of Heart Month 2020 with a theme: Pusong Inaalagaan Sakit maiiwasan mag healthy lifestyle #selflove.

The Baywang Challenge is a weight management contest intended among all overweight and obese grade 1-5 of public and private elementary pupils of Santiago City. It aims to increase the awareness of the target participants on their nutritional status, to help participants gradually lose weight and eventually maintain while they are still growing and to help the target participants improve their eating exercise habits.

The challenge shall be a five months weight management for identified overweight and obese school children base on the initial screening.

Also, participating elementary schools, both public and private, shall innovate, strategize and implement their own wellness/fitness program for weight management of their challengers.

All challengers are required to be weighed and monitored by the CHO staff during the scheduled weighing date at school or Barangay Health Center

So, what should we do to prevent obesity among children?

There’s lot we can do to help the children to have a healthier weight. We can help prevent obesity by emphasizing on these 3 points: Increase physical activity, nutrition information and education and provide healthy food environment.

Increase physical activity. Encouraging them to be active in school and at home. It is recommended that 60 minutes of vigorous activity for children most days of the week. Limit their sedentary activities.  The WHO recommendation on screen time for 2 years above is only 2 hours a day. Include school activities/projects that would require them to do some physical activity instead of just sitting and surfing on the internet. Improve children’s access to physical activity programs and you should advocate for daily school physical education.

Nutrition information and education. Educate them what a healthy diet is and encourage them to eat healthy meals, drinks and snacks. Support it by making available of delicious and healthy meals in your school canteens. A creative, colorful and appetizing would attract the children to eat more of these healthy foods. Junk foods, processed foods and soft drinks should not be an option for them. We encourage the city health office to frequently conduct a nutrition education or nutrition class in the public and private elementary schools.

Provide healthy food environment. Intensify the implementation of DepEd order No. 13 Policy and Guidelines on Healthy Food and Beverage Choices in Schools and in DepEd offices. This policy establishes the guidelines to promote healthy diets and positive eating behaviours and provide healthy eating environment to learners, teachers and non-teaching personnel.

• Each school shall develop their own healthy menu ensuring that the foods and drinks offered are nutritious, affordable.
• The canteens in schools and DepEd offices shall not sell foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and sodium. There shall be a shift towards healthier fat consumption by providing more of foods with unsaturated fats and limiting foods laden with saturated and transfats
• Follow pinggang pinoy for kids. It is a plate-based food guide, simple and familiar image associated with eating that provides immediate visual cues about portion size on a per-meal basis

Lastly, be a good role model. Children learn by example. We should always remember that YOU SHOULD PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. Encourage the teachers, their second parent, to set a good example by selecting and eating much healthier foods and avoiding soft drinks and sweets that is usually ordered. You’ve been a good model to them and at the same time you have protected yourself from getting obese and the risks of having CVDs.

Always remember to give the best love, #SELFLove <3 ###(FVTV-JNLB)