Obesity, overweight prevalence rising among Pinoy teens — DOST-FNRI

The Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) reported Thursday a "significant" increase in overweight and obesity prevalence among Filipino adolescents.

Citing the policy statement on "FAT (Fad and Trending)!: Adolescent Obesity" and data from the 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), the DOST-FNRI said that overweight and obesity prevalence among teenagers rose from 11.6 percent in 2018 to 13 percent in 2021.

The study also showed that male respondents were more likely to be obese (14.8%) than females (11.3%).

In terms of geography, residents in urban areas (16.2%) were also more likely to be obese compared to counterparts in rural sites (10.7%).

The DOST-FNRI warned that nutrition-related problems arise when a person reaches adolescence due to the consumption of low-nutrient energy-dense foods, excessive consumption of added sugar and fats, and inadequate intake of micronutrients.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) and DOST-FNRI reported that the development of obesity among adolescents can be due to decreased physical activities, sedentary lifestyle, altered eating patterns, increased fat content of the diet, and obesity-associated genes," the DOST-FNRI said.

Citing WHO research findings, the institute said that overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and develop non-communicable diseases (NCDs), like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, at a younger age.

"The DOST-FNRI urged national government agencies to form standard protocols for physical activity programs and routine, provide parents and caregivers with the latest health information and other resource materials, fund and regularly organize seminars or courses on nutrition and physical activity, increase surveillance, and support and fund researches studies focusing on symptoms, prevention, and cure of genetic factors of obesity such as metabolic syndrome," the statement read. — VDV, GMA Integrated News