JAN MARK R. DALUPE
11 STEM-DALY
“NUtrition
Month”
"Junkfoods, fastfoods, and soft drinks" are indeed our go-to when we are
craving or wanting something that is ready-made yet fulfills ourselves. But
what if I told you that based on the results of the Food and Nutrition Research
Institute's (FNRI) Eighth National Nutrition Survey, the NTRC said three out of
every 10 Filipinos aged 20 and older were overweight or obese, partly due to
eating junk food excessively as well as a lack of physical activity? Isn't this
enough for us to take action and now take part in a healthy and nutritious
lifestyle? Yes, I know it is really hard to kill our cravings for those delicious
yet deadly foods, but we can gradually adjust until we are used to not including
them in our diet. Thanks to Philippine Nutrition Month, which aims to raise
awareness about the significance of proper nutrition in promoting overall health
and well-being among Filipinos, the month-long celebration, held every July,
serves as a platform for government agencies, non-government organizations,
and other stakeholders to educate the public on the importance of making healthy
food choices and maintaining a balanced diet. With the rise of non-communicable
diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in the Philippines
(Angeles-Agdeppa et al., 2020), promoting good nutrition practices is crucial to
addressing these public health concerns and reducing the burden of healthcare
costs on the government and society (Kumar, S., & Preetha, G., 2012). The
relevance of Philippine Nutrition Month is further underscored by the challenges
posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has highlighted the importance of
strong immune systems in fighting off infections and illnesses (Uddin et al.,
2023). As the pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity and malnutrition among
vulnerable populations, efforts to promote proper nutrition have become more
urgent than ever (Kakaei et al., 2022). By emphasizing the role of nutrition in
boosting immunity and supporting overall health, Philippine Nutrition Month plays
a crucial role in empowering individuals to take charge of their health and wellbeing. Ultimately, investing in nutrition education and advocacy can lead to a
healthier and more resilient Filipino population, capable of weathering present
and future health challenges.
Citations
Angeles-Agdeppa, I., Sun, Y., Denney, L. et al. Food sources, energy and
nutrient intakes of
adults: 2013 Philippines National Nutrition
Survey. Nutr J 18, 59 (2019).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-0190481-z
Angeles-Agdeppa, I., Sun, Y., & Tanda, K. V. (2020). Dietary pattern and
nutrient intakes in association with non-communicable disease risk factors
among Filipino adults: a cross-sectional study. Nutrition journal, 19(1),
79. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-020- 00597-x
Kakaei, H., Nourmoradi, H., Bakhtiyari, S., Jalilian, M., & Mirzaei, A.
(2022). Effect of COVID- 19 on food security, hunger, and food
crisis. COVID-19 and the Sustainable
Development Goals, 3–29.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91307-2.00005-5
Kumar, S., & Preetha, G. (2012). Health promotion: an effective tool for
global health. Indian journal of community medicine : official publication
of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, 37(1), 5–12.
https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-0218.94009
Uddin, N., Acter, T., Rashid, M. H., Chowdhury, A. I., & Jahan, E. A.
(2023). Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic by strengthening immunity
as a nonpharmaceutical intervention:
A major public health
challenge.
Health
science
reports,
6(9),
e1562.
https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1562