Prevalence analysis of overweight and obesity among school children in Baliwag, Bulacan: A model of public health and nutrition policy

• Main Authors: Santos, Francia R., Roxas, Elizabeth R., Clemente, Elenita A., Yasa, Cecilia C.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: Overweight children—Philippines—Bulacan—Baliwag; Obesity in children—Philippines—Bulacan—Baliwag; Public health—Philippines—Bulacan—Baliwag; Nutrition policy—Philippines—Bulacan—Baliwag; Public Health
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/11293
• Institution: De La Salle University

The rising prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity cases in children had been reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) globally. This was also confirmed by the United Nations’ (UN) report on the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children worldwide. WHO added that even in a developing country like the Philippines, the increasing trends in overweight and obesity cases among school children were also prevalent. What is critical in those reports is that childhood obesity had been associated with serious health problems and other illnesses. Thus, a three-year longitudinal data was utilized to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the public elementary schools. Furthermore, the method involves collaborative school-based survey among the four select public schools with severe cases of overweight or obesity in the Municipality of Baliuag. Risk exposures to contributory factors among school children with obesity cases in public schools had been analyzed using sequential approach. Findings of this study are backed by the literature that dietary behaviors and physical activities explain the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children. Moreover, this study reveals that there are no significant differences found in the dietary behaviors and physical activities of children, however, uniformity of findings showed that children were exposed to foods high in carbohydrates, sugar and fats that are available in their home, school and favorite fast food environment. Implications of the study are imperative for effective sustainable public health policy and programs of the local government unit.