Malnutrition Among Filipino Kids Up
ANILA, Philippines?As the administration of President Benigno Aquino III settles down and braces for work for the next six years, a review of the latest National Nutrition Survey (NNS) might be imperative to guide it in one of its proclaimed crusades?to reduce poverty.
Through Executive Order No. 128, signed on Jan. 30, 1987 during the time of the President?s mother, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is mandated to undertake research to define the nutritional status of the population particularly the malnutrition problem and its causes and effects, and to identify alternative solutions to them.
Undertaken every five years, the survey and its results serve as inputs to national plans and programs. The NNS is also useful in providing benchmarks to gauge the country?s progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, including the eradication of hunger, reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health.
Underweight, underheight
One of the issues the 2008 NNS looked into is children?s nutrition. The research found that the number of Filipino children who were underweight and underheight or stunted increased from 2005 to 2008.
The prevalence of underweight children aged 0-5 years increased from 24.6 percent to 26.2 percent, about 3.35 million children.
The underheight rate increased from 26.3 percent to 27.9 percent, representing 3.57 million children.
There was also a significant increase in the prevalence of underweight children aged 6-10 years from 22.8 percent in 2005 to 25.6 percent in 2008, equivalent to 2.6 million. The number of underheight children in this age group likewise increased from 32 percent to 33.1 percent.
A very high level of acute malnutrition among preschoolers (aged 0-5) was noted in six regions, namely Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Soccsksargen where the underweight-for-age prevalence was at
Through Executive Order No. 128, signed on Jan. 30, 1987 during the time of the President?s mother, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is mandated to undertake research to define the nutritional status of the population particularly the malnutrition problem and its causes and effects, and to identify alternative solutions to them.
Undertaken every five years, the survey and its results serve as inputs to national plans and programs. The NNS is also useful in providing benchmarks to gauge the country?s progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, including the eradication of hunger, reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health.
Underweight, underheight
One of the issues the 2008 NNS looked into is children?s nutrition. The research found that the number of Filipino children who were underweight and underheight or stunted increased from 2005 to 2008.
The prevalence of underweight children aged 0-5 years increased from 24.6 percent to 26.2 percent, about 3.35 million children.
The underheight rate increased from 26.3 percent to 27.9 percent, representing 3.57 million children.
There was also a significant increase in the prevalence of underweight children aged 6-10 years from 22.8 percent in 2005 to 25.6 percent in 2008, equivalent to 2.6 million. The number of underheight children in this age group likewise increased from 32 percent to 33.1 percent.
A very high level of acute malnutrition among preschoolers (aged 0-5) was noted in six regions, namely Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Soccsksargen where the underweight-for-age prevalence was at