Are Filipinos moving enough?
QUEZON CITY (PIA)— Three out of every four Filipino adolescents, or approximately 75.5%, are not getting enough physical activity.
This was revealed in the 2023 National Nutrition Survey, done every 5 years by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
FNRI defines insufficient physical activity as doing less than 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise per day.
The survey also indicates that this extends to other age groups, with 46% of adults aged 20-59 and 57.3% of older persons aged 60.
“Personally, since my work hours are from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, I have no time in the morning, and by evening, I’m tired from work,” admits Jeno Bautista, a 28-year-old resident of Barangay Palanan, Makati City.
“I could walk home, but the city isn’t walkable outside the Makati Central Business District (CBD). While it’s okay to walk in the CBD area, there are no proper sidewalks outside of it, forcing you to walk on the road, which is dangerous,” she added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that physical inactivity, partnered with poor diet, raises the risk of obesity and disease.
Globally, 80% of teens and 31% of adults are not active physically, making it the 4th leading cause of death worldwide.
Thus, FNRI is encouraging Filipinos of all ages to include physical activities by walking, biking, or participating in different sports like basketball, badminton, and volleyball into their daily routine, alongside maintaining a nutritious diet.
They also recommend joining community-based fitness activities like Zumba.
To help address physical inactivity amongst adolescents, the DOST-FNRI creates educational materials through its “Move More for Healthier Filipino Teens” project to encourage them to be more physically active.
They also continue to promote balanced nutrition through initiatives such as “Pinggang Pinoy,” a visual guide that traces proper food portions for a healthy Filipino diet. (GLDG/PIA-NCR)
