Active lifestyle prevents obesity, says health office

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, July 23 (PIA) --- Maintaining a physically active lifestyle prevents weight problems and obesity, according to health experts here.

Dr. Alinader Minalang, chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said regular physical activity can help control weight and improve one’s health.

He said increased physical activity is also recommended under the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition which aims to address the current prevalence of obesity among children and adult.

Based on the latest nutrition survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults in the country increased from 16.6 percent in 1993 to 31.1 percent in 2013. The number also went up for children, aged 11 to 19 years old, from 5.8 percent in 2003 to 8.3 percent in 2013. Among pre-school children, the prevalence has also gradually increased to 4.9 percent in 2013.

According to Minalang, physical inactivity is a key contributor for the increasing prevalence of obesity and weight problems in the country.

He said other contributors include shift in dietary pattern, poor breastfeeding practices, and child undernutrition particularly during the first 1000 days of life.

“Infants who experienced growth failure early in life and had rapid weight gain in childhood might be at risk of adult obesity and non-communicable diseases,” he added.

IPHO Nutrition Program Coordinator Nelia Sarap said intake of fruits and vegetables, managing stress, and cessation of smoking and alcohol consumption also help control weight problems.

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months prevents overweight and obesity in children too, she added.

Meanwhile, IPHO is intensifying its advocacy campaign on proper nutrition through the 10 Kumainments and Pinggang Pinoy programs.

Minalang said these programs will help address the increasing prevalence of obesity and overweight.

The 10 Kumainments is a food-based dietary guideline that promotes proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle. The Pinggang Pinoy is a guide that uses food plate model to convey right food group proportions on a per-meal basis. (APB/PIA-10)