DRIVING THOUGHTS

In a country where food is central to culture and social life, it’s easy to overlook the growing health crisis simmering beneath the surface. But the numbers are alarming: obesity and lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease are on the rise in the Philippines.

According to a survey of the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute, around 27 million Filipinos are overweight and obese. For the past two decades, overweight and obesity among adults has almost doubled from 20.2 percent  in 1998 to 36.6 percent in 2019.
Another survey conducted between July 2021 and June 2022 showed that 38.6 percent of adults aged 20 and 59 in the Philippines were diagnosed as obese or overweight. Obesity increases the risk for severe diseases and health conditions such as hypertension, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Meanwhile, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity among adolescents have more than doubled from 4.9 percent in 2003 to 11.6 percent in 2018. It is projected that more than 30 percent of Filipino adolescents will be overweight and obese by 2030.

The culprits are obvious but hard to tackle. Sedentary lifestyles with no exercise, poor diets rich in processed foods, and lack of awareness about proper nutrition are all contributing factors. The shift toward urbanization has only exacerbated the problem, with fast food outlets becoming more accessible than fresh produce. And with the convenience of home delivery, it is now easier to order fast food than buy fruits.

Combating obesity and lifestyle diseases is not just about individual choices. It’s about addressing the systemic issues that influence those choices. Without proper interventions, we are looking at a future where these preventable conditions will strain our healthcare system and diminish the quality of life for millions of Filipinos.

There are government initiatives, such as the Pinggang Pinoy food guide and the Move to Health campaign, promoting healthier habits. But public health campaigns alone are not enough. What we need is a more holistic approach that includes policy changes, community involvement, and stronger education efforts.

The "Pinggang Pinoy" (Filipino Plate) food guide developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) aims to promote healthy eating habits by illustrating the recommended proportions of food groups on a plate. Complementing that is the "Move to Health" campaign which encourages physical activity and healthy lifestyles. 

Have those campaigns reduced the increase in obesity incidence?  It doesn’t seem so.  Healthy food options are often more expensive and less accessible than their unhealthy counterparts. This economic disparity means that low-income families are more likely to consume cheap, calorie-dense food that is nutritionally poor.

Second, our urban environments are not designed to encourage physical activity. Lack of parks, bike lanes, walking paths, and safe public spaces contribute to a sedentary lifestyle, especially among children.

Third, education is crucial. Schools should play a central role in teaching young Filipinos about nutrition and healthy habits.

We can learn from the New Zealand government which invests in promoting outdoor activities because it is a key factor in preventing and treating non-communicable diseases. NZ’s Ministry of Health said that “in 2022/23, 46.5 percent of adults met physical activity guidelines, a decline from 51.3 percent in 2021/22, highlighting the need for continued investment in promoting physical activity.”

In 2019, the NZ government embarked on a project to expand bike trails, building the beautiful 51-kilometer trail along Dunstan Lake in Central Otago, South Island. According to a government statement: “Cycling promotes physical activity and contributes to a healthier population, reducing the burden on the healthcare system and improving overall quality of life.”

The reasons cited for investing in bike trails are very sound and we can pick up a few points here:

“Investing in cycling infrastructure aims to shift people from private vehicles to active and sustainable modes of transport, reducing reliance on cars, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and improving air quality. 

“Cycling infrastructure is generally less expensive to build and maintain than car infrastructure, providing a cost-effective solution for improving transportation. 

The fight against obesity and lifestyle diseases requires a collective effort. It’s not just about urging individuals to eat less and move more—it’s about reshaping the very systems that influence our health.

If we fail to act, the cost will be immense—not just in terms of healthcare spending, but in lost productivity, reduced quality of life, and a diminished future for the next generation. The time to act is now.