While most Filipinos suffer from hunger and poverty, there is an increasing overweight prevalence among school children in the Philippines, according to two surveys by a government agency.
The national nutrition survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) revealed a steady increase in obesity cases from 5.7 percent in 1989 to 8 percent in 1993 and then to 8.8 percent in 1998.
The deadly combination of eating calorie-rich foods and sedentary lifestyle owing to technology is plaguing Filipino children, particularly those in private schools, as they have the most tendency to these two behaviors.
According to the institute, parents make daily decisions on recreational opportunities, food available at home, and children’s allowances. Parents also implement rules and policies that influence how much each member of the family engages in healthful eating and physical activity.
With this major influence on their children, the FNRI called on parents to help prevent childhood obesity by promoting healthy values and attitudes, rewarding or reinforcing specific behaviors, and serving as role models.
The institute also urged parents to promote healthy food selection by making nutritious foods available at home. Citing a study that says the more families eat together, the more likely children and adolescents will consume healthy food, family members are also encouraged to eat together.
A separate study on lifestyle, on the other hand, found out that children are becoming less physically active because of modern technology that keeps them sedentary at home in front of the television, watching movies or playing video games.
For this, the FNRI recommended supporting children’s athletic interests and making exercise a family activity to increase physical activity among children. With parents leading the way toward making healthy lifestyle a family commitment, obesity and overweight problems among children can be countered. |
