DOST-FNRI survey results provides insights into health, nutrition landscape in CV

 CEBU CITY – The Department of Science and Technology—Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), in a Regional Dissemination Forum on September 17 in Cebu, presented fresh insights into the region’s food, nutrition, and health landscape providing a comprehensive picture of the region’s nutritional situation and a call to action for programs and policies that can improve health outcomes across Central Visayas.

A team of research specialists from DOST-FNRI took turns to present various survey results on key areas including food environment and food security, household and individual food consumption, infant and young child feeding, anthropometry, clinical and health indicators, biochemical status, and the use of iodized salt.

The team summarized the nutritional problems in Central Visayas among different age groups starting with the under-five children who faced health problems like underweight, stunting, and overweight.  School-age children have a lower prevalence of underweight and stunting compared to younger children.

Pregnant and lactating women, as well as adults, have a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity while older persons have a higher prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED), overweight, and obesity, with high waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio being significant issues.

On food acquisition and expenditure patterns, survey said households commonly spend no amount on food two to three times a week from both natural and other sources.  Food purchases are made from traditional and modern food stores about two to three times a week and once or twice a month, respectively.  Spending ranges from P100 to P500 in traditional food stores and more than P1000 in modern food stores and very minimal amount spent on food transfers like aid and gifts.

On breastfeeding practices and dietary diversity, results showed that 68.7% of infants 0 to 23 months old in Central Visayas have a minimum acceptable diet. Only 10% of infants meet the minimum dietary diversity, while almost all meet the minimum meal frequency but the quality and quantity of diet for infants are deemed inadequate.  Indicators also showed that mothers have breastfeeding practices, including timely initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, and continued breastfeeding.

On food environment and nutritional status, results indicated that the food environment in Central Visayas and the food security status has identified a significant issue of a chronic energy deficiency (CED) affecting individual food intake and leading to recurrent illnesses.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among non-pregnant, non-lactating women is slightly lower than the national average. Lactating mothers in Central Visayas have a higher prevalence of obesity compared to the national average.

The prevalence of CED among the professional adults aged 20 to 59 years old in Central Visayas is lower than the national level, while overweight and obesity are more common.  Abdominal obesity, measured by waist circumference, affects 12.9% of the population in Central Visayas.

The prevalence of CED among older persons (60 years and above) in the region is slightly higher than the national average.  Overweight affects 17.8% of older persons, while obesity affects 33.2%. High waist circumference affects 16.4% of older persons, and high waist-to-hip ratio affects 65.6 percent. 

The Central Visayas region has a low anemia prevalence of 1.3% among preschool children, significantly lower than the national prevalence of 4.4% while Anemia prevalence among school-age children (6 to 12 years) is 4.4%, which is also lower than the national estimate of 7.1% and

for older age groups, anemia prevalence is 5.8% for those aged 20 to 59 years, 12.9% for those aged 60 years and above, and 10.3% for non-pregnant, non-lactating women aged 15 to 49 years.

The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among preschool children (6 to 71 months) is 16.4%, higher but not significantly different from the national estimate of 30.9%.  For school-age children (6 to 12 years), the prevalence is 9.2%, classified as mild to moderate.  Among adolescents (13 to 19 years), the prevalence is 3.2%, considered low to mild public health significance and for adults (20 to 59 years), the prevalence is 9%, similar to the national estimate of nine percent.

Based on the findings, the forum also did a dialog through a Policy Engagement Workshop, where regional stakeholders, representing government, academe, civil society, and private organizations, shared perspectives on how to translate survey findings into practical, evidence-based strategies for improved nutrition and food security in the country. (Photos: MBCNewman)