It's alarming! The 2023 National Nutrition Survey revealed that four in ten adults (39.8%) are overweight or obese. Even more concerning, nearly one in ten Filipino children are now affected: figures that exceed global thresholds and signal an urgent need for action. In today’s fast-paced world, the way we eat has changed—dramatically, and not for the better. Long work hours, relentless traffic, and the constant juggling of responsibilities have pushed families toward what’s quick and convenient. But the consequences are alarming. Fast food, canned meals, and processed snacks have become everyday staples—not just for adults, but increasingly for children. And now, the damage is showing. National health data paints a disturbing picture of a growing public health crisis.
This crisis, however, isn’t just about individual choices. It’s the result of a food system stacked against healthy living—where highly processed, unhealthy options are cheaper, easier to find, and relentlessly marketed. As the World Health Organization warns, ultra-processed foods like sugary cereals, snacks, and flavored drinks now flood store shelves. Filipino children are among the most vulnerable. According to UNICEF, their diets are shifting away from fruits and vegetables toward dangerously high levels of sugar, salt, and fat. The impact is stark: between 2019 and 2022, the percentage of overweight children aged 5 to 10 jumped from 10.4% to 14%—and the trend is continuing among adolescents.
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