CEBU, July 3 (PIA) -- Obesity is currently a
growing health issue among children and adults in Central Visayas based on the
8th National Nutrition Survey which showed an increasing trend.
Based on the survey, three out of 100 children
aged zero to five years or 3.6 percent were classified as overweight in 2013
compared to 2.6 percent in 2011 while eight out of 100 children with age range
of five to 10 years or 7.9 percent were overweight in 2013 compared to 4.3
percent in 2011.
The same survey showed an upward trend of
obesity among teenagers from 10 to 19 years old with 6.9 percent or six out of
100 in 2013 as against with only 4.8 percent in 2011. For adults 20 years old
and above, 30.1 percent or three out of 10 adults were overweight from 28 percent
in 2011.
During the annual Operation Timbang Plus of the
Department of Health (DOH-7), it showed the increase in the overweight
prevalence among children in the region from 1.00 percent in 2013 to 1.04
percent in 2014.
Cebu Province topped among the four provinces in
Central Visayas with 1.48 percent equivalent to one out of 100 children
overweight followed by Siquijor Province with 1.29 percent or still one out of
100 overweight children.
Negros Oriental Province came third with 0.95
percent (still equivalent to one overweight child out of 100) and lastly, Bohol
Province with 0.7 percent.
Among the cities in Central Visayas, Bais City
ranked first with three overweight out of 100 children or 3.21 percent followed
by Tagbilaran City with 1.53 percent or two classified as overweight out of 100
children.
Third place went to Naga City with 1.40 percent
or one overweight out of 100 children and Tanjay City came fourth with the
least overweight prevalence with 0.06 percent.
Factors attributed behind overweight and obesity
in the Philippines is physical inactivity, changing dietary patterns,
undernutrition among children, and poor breastfeeding practices.
The month of July is celebrated as National
Nutrition Month which this year carries the theme “Bite Into A Healthy
Lifestyle.” (mbcn/fcr/PIA7/with reports from Jay-Ileen Engalla,
Intern/PIT)
- See more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1061435891928/nnc--7-says-obesity-a-growing-health-problem-in-cv#sthash.woX8ODUC.dpuf