The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have been calling on governments to forge a “global pact” against obesity. Unhealthy diets, according to the FAO, are the world’s No. 1 cause of disease, disability and death. To fight the scourge that is obesity, the FAO urged governments to establish rules and standards to promote healthy and nutritious food (See, “FAO pitches global pact vs obesity, adoption of healthy diet standards,” in the BusinessMirror, May 8, 2019).
The Philippines is one of the countries that have seen a significant rise in the number of obese citizens. The results of the latest survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology revealed that the prevalence of obesity in the country has reached 31.1 percent. This is nearly double the 16.3 percent registered in 1993, prompting experts to say that the country’s obesity and overweight situation has already become an epidemic.
Physicians would usually advise their overweight patients to change diets and reduce their calorie intake, on top of increasing their physical activities. This prescription, however, entails radical changes in the patient’s consumption pattern, removing foods that are high in saturated fat such as fried food and junk food. In this day and age, however, that is easier said than done.
While it is always advisable to consume fruits and green leafy vegetables, these products are expensive in Metro Manila and other urban areas. Consider the “Pinggang Pinoy” recommended by the government. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, Filipinos were advised to eat rice, meat or fish, fruit and vegetables every meal. For a worker earning a daily wage of P500, the proposed Pinggang Pinoy is simply beyond reach, based on the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
PSA figures show that the average price of pork in Metro Manila is P220 per kilogram. Chicken is sold at P150/kg, while fish—considered the cheapest source of protein—goes for P110 to P280/kg, depending on variety. Among the vegetables sold in Metro Manila, the cheapest is eggplant at P50/kg. Priced at P40/kg, latundan banana is the most affordable fruit sold in Metro Manila.
In contrast, a can of luncheon meat costs only around P80 while instant noodles can be bought for P11 a pack. For other workers who earn more than the daily wage in the National Capital Region but do not have the time to cook their own food, value meals that cost less than P100 seem a viable alternative. The cost of fresh produce and the current consumption patterns of people in the NCR may be the reason it has the highest prevalence of obesity in the Philippines at 39.9 percent. This means that 4 out of 10 people in the NCR are overweight or are in danger of developing life-threatening diseases.
The government should step up its information campaign and warn people about the dangers of being overweight. This may be done in schools and in health centers. Schools—public and private—should also adopt a policy to encourage physical activities among students, given the findings of a study that millennials now spend most of their time glued to the screens of their tablets or smartphones.
The government should consider enlisting the help of schools as well as the private sector to make nutritious food affordable and readily available to students and wage earners. As the National Food Authority’s role continues to evolve, the government may consider tapping its outlets as sources of cheap farm products. Until and unless people have access to affordable healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, obesity in the country will remain a heavy burden to bear.
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