Health Experts Cite Need for Reducing Obesity Rate in the Country for Lower Health Costs

Health specialists from the Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity (PASOO), stressing that seven out of 100 Filipinos are obese, have called for collaboration in reducing the rate to lower the costs of treatment of complications arising from it.

In a health forum on obesity held on Tuesday at Annabel’s Restaurant on Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City, PASOO revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the country has risen steadily over the years.

According to Dr. Roberto C. Mirasol, endocrinologist and president of PASOO, from 16.6 percent in 1993, the obesity rate in the Philippines went up to a staggering 31 percent in 1993 based on the 2013 National Nutrition Survey.

“This trend is also being seen among children and young people who will become overweight or obese in adulthood,” Dr. Mirasol said.

He warned that if nothing is done, the risk of increasing the obesity numbers among Filipinos will be higher in the next 10 years.

He cited that globally, obesity is rapidly becoming the biggest public health challenge and ranking among the top three causes of chronic ill-health.

The PASOO head noted that there are medical complications that may result from being overweight or obese because statistics have shown that as obesity rises, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases also goes up and therefore is an increasing population needing treatment.

Dr. Mirasol added that in terms of solutions, a multi-sectoral approach is needed wherein all sectors of society, public and private, as well as industry should contribute.

According to Dr. Sioksoan Chan-Cua, another health expert, obesity among children can result to complications in health problems ranging from psycho-social, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal, musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular and endocrine.

Dr. Cua cited several factors contributing to childhood obesity.

Among these are pre-natal cause; feeding practices and food preferences in early life; lack of information; urbanization; and digitalized environment.

“We have to do something… The good news is that it can be reversible,” Cua said.

She added that they are very concerned on reversing the trend due to high costs of treatment.

“If you have obesity at young age, then that means the complications will occur at younger age and the burden of obesity will be higher,” she stressed.

She cited that in a related study conducted in other countries, it was learned that the cost of treatment for obese patients was about 42 percent higher than for normally healthy people.

“We’re talking about Universal Health Care for everybody, but if we do not take care of ourselves, and we have more obese people, then the cost will be higher,” she explained.

She cited that some simple steps to trim down the obesity or overweight numbers can be done through the so-called “LOVE” formula:

L – stands for Limit for food portions.

O – is for Omitting sugary drinks.

V – for Vegetable and fruits daily.

E – Exercise and physical activity.

The forum was conducted in line with the observance of World Obesity Day on Oct. 11, 2015.

It was spearheaded by the Philippine College of Physicians under its current president, Dr. Mariano Lopez. (PNA) SCS/LSJ