Nutrition Situation of Central Visayas

The problem of malnutrition remains to be a challenge in Central Visayas. According to the 2015 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the DOST (FNRI-DOST), 23 per 100 children 0-5 years old in Central Visayas are underweight. or 22.8%. This is a little higher compared to the national average of 21 per 100 children or 21.5%, Stunting (or being too short for one’s age) of children 0-5 years old has also increases from 34.7% (35 per 100) in 2013 to 37.7% (38 per 100) in 2015. This is also higher than the national average of 33.4% or 33 out of a 100. Stunting represents the presence of long-term malnutrition. The same survey also showed that 7% or 7 out of every 100 children 0-5 years of age are wasted (or too thin for their height).

On the other side of the spectrum, over nutrition is also a concern in the region. It registered a prevalence rate of 2.6% or 3 out of every 100 in 2015.

Adults, 20 years old and over with elevated blood pressure remains to be at 21.4 or 21 for every 100. Elevated fasting blood glucose, an indicator for diabetes mellitus, has a prevalence of 4.9% or 5 out of every 100 persons, while those with high cholesterol is at 14.6% or 15 out of every 100 (NNS, 2013, 2015).

The 2016 Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus showed that there has been a minimal decrease in underweight-for-age in Central Visayas from 4.91% in 2015 to 4.6% in 2016. The same data also showed a prevalence of stunting at 12.64% or 13 of every 100 0-5 years old, and wasting at 3.51% or 4 out of 100. and 2.90% or 2 out of 100 are overweight for their height. Among the provinces in the region, Cebu Province ranked first in undernutrition with 6.21% or 6 out of 100 pre-school children (PSC), followed by Negros Oriental Province with 5.84% (6 out of 100 PSC), Siquijor Province with 4.46% OPT Plus is an annual weighing and height measurement of all pre-schools aging 0-59 months old or below 5 years old in a community to identify and locate malnourished children. Data generated through OPT Plus are used for local nutrition action planning particularly in quantifying the number of malnourished children and identify who will be given priority interventions in the community.

With the above situation, the Regional Nutrition Committee together with the different local nutrition committees region-wide is set to launch a campaign for healthy diet consistent with the principle of moderation, variety and balance in food choices of school canteens, hospital cafeterias and other food service establishments in Central Visayas.