04/09/2026
#๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ: ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐
Every first week of September, the Philippines observes Obesity Prevention Awareness Week, established through Presidential Proclamation No. 162, s. 1999, to raise awareness about obesity and its health risks (Office of the President of the Philippines, 1999). More than two decades later, this observance remains relevant as the country continues to face the triple burden of malnutrition, including overweight and obesity.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), overweight and obesity refer to abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Among adults, a BMI of 25 kg/mยฒ or higher is considered overweight, while 30 kg/mยฒ or higher is considered obesity (WHO, 2025). Obesity is a complex and chronic condition influenced by biological, social, economic, behavioral, and environmental factorsโnot simply a matter of individual choice or willpower. It can increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and other health complications.
This concern is also evident in CALABARZON. Results of the 2025 Updating Survey of the DOST - Food and Nutrition Research Institute show that overweight and obesity remain important nutrition concerns across different age groups. For school-age children (5โ10 years old), overweight and obesity rose significantly from 14.8% in 2023 to 20.2% in 2025. Among adolescents (10โ19 years old), overweight and obesity likewise rose from 14.7% to 18.5%.
The survey also showed increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults. Among non-pregnant and non-lactating women of reproductive age (15โ49 years old), overweight increased from 14.8% to 15.6%, while obesity rose sharply from 35.2% to 43.0%. Among adults aged 20โ59 years, obesity increased from 41.3% to 47.7%. Older persons also experienced increases in chronic energy deficiency, from 8.1% to 8.7%, and obesity, from 35.9% to 39.1%. On the other hand, overweight and obesity among children under five slightly declined from 4.7% to 4.4%, which is lower than the national prevalence of 5.1%. These findings show that overweight and obesity can affect people throughout the life course and highlight the need for continued and age-appropriate prevention efforts.
Addressing obesity, however, is not the responsibility of individuals alone. The World Obesity Day 2026 campaign, โ8 ๐ฝ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ผ๐๐ฉ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐จ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ,โ reminds us that everyone has a role to playโfrom families and communities to health systems, schools, workplaces, policymakers, and other sectors. It calls for a shift from blame to shared responsibility, and from isolated efforts to coordinated action (World Obesity Federation [WOF], 2026).
Recognizing the importance of healthier environments, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) adopted the ๐ฃ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น (๐ฃ๐ก๐ฃ๐ ) as the country's national reference for identifying prepackaged foods and beverages high in nutrients of concern. Approved with finality on June 10, 2026, the PNPM provides a science-based approach to assessing processed foods and beverages and can support policies and programs that promote healthier food environments (NNC, 2026). Such efforts can help make healthier choices more accessible and easier for individuals and families. Local government units (LGUs) are also encouraged to implement interventions aligned with the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) specifically under the Overweight and Obesity Management and Prevention Program.
At the same time, everyone can contribute through simple and consistent actionsโchoosing nutritious foods, drinking water more often, moving more and sitting less, and helping create supportive environments at home, in schools, workplaces, and communities. Regular health monitoring and timely consultation with health professionals can also support prevention and appropriate care.
The ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ก๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐น ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ก joins the observance of Obesity Prevention Awareness Week this September calling for stronger collective action to prevent overweight and obesity and promote healthier lifestyles and environments. Let us work together to make healthier choices easier and more accessible for everyone. We have 8 billion reasons to actโand our reason is simple: a healthier CALABARZON for all. ๐ฟ๐ต๐ญ
Access full article and references here: https://tinyurl.com/NNC4A-OPAW2026
Written by:
NO II John Kentzee A. Solibaga, RND
NO III Theresa A. Rivas, RND, MPH
NPC Lourdes Bulante-Orongan, RND, MDM
