Cebu City - As part of the Nutrition Month celebration, the Department of Health Central Visayas Center for Health Development together with NNC 7 held a Nutrition Caravan for the DOH employees. The event which offered various health assessment from the knowing one’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and fat percentage to knowing one’s cholesterol level, uric acid level, blood pressure, and blood type. The activity was held on 27 July 2022 at the Narra Conference Room of the agency.

Nutrition counseling was also offered among the participants by the volunteer interns of Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics in the University of San Carlos headed by their faculty in charge. Alongside with them were the registered Nutritionist-Dietitian of NNC 7 and DOH CV CHD.

During the counselling, the nutritional guidelines for Filipinos or the 10 Kumainments and Pinggang Pinoy were also advocated to the participants. The counsellors also strengthened the promotion of an active lifestyle among the employees. As most of the participants were on a desk job or does not have hobbies or activities that could help them be active therefore preventing the occurrence of non-communicable diseases.

Answered during the counselling session were the queries on the diets that are found or read on the internet, questions about the FAD diets like the Keto diet, intermittent fasting and the like. Practicing good nutrition was also encouraged as some participants were expectant mothers. Nutrition for some health conditions were also shared by the counsellors like nutrition for diabetes, gout, goiter, etc. depending on the presenting problem and family history of participants.

The activity served as an eye opener for most of the employees of the agency. A lot were motivated to have a lifestyle change. Knowing one’s body is needed to know what proper and appropriate steps to take for a healthy lifestyle, to live a better and longer life. // DMO II Christine Lopez, RND