Wazzup Pilipinas!?
In the quiet corners of classrooms across the Philippines, a hidden battle is being waged—not with words or weapons, but within the very bodies of the nation’s future. We often think of malnutrition as a single, hollow-cheeked face, but the reality is far more complex and treacherous. It is a "double-edged sword" known as malnourishment, and it is claiming the health of Filipino learners at an alarming rate.
According to a startling report from WazzupPilipinas.com, the crisis has split into two distinct, yet equally dangerous, fronts: undernutrition and overnutrition.
The Invisible Thief: Undernutrition
For many, the face of hunger is the child who lacks enough to eat. This is undernutrition—a condition where the body is starved of the essential fuel it needs to grow. The latest data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) paints a haunting picture: nearly one in every Filipino child between the ages of five and ten is underweight and stunted for their age.
When a child is undernourished, their body enters a state of survival, sacrificing growth and immunity just to keep the heart beating. They become "stunted," a physical marker of a potential that may never be fully realized.
The Modern Paradox: Overnutrition
On the contrary, a new shadow has emerged in the 21st century. Overnutrition occurs when the body is flooded with an excessive supply of nutrients beyond its capacity to process. Driven by "food fads" and the overconsumption of dietary supplements or processed foods, this leads to obesity and internal imbalances.
The FNRI’s 2019 data shows a rising tide of this "heavy" hunger:
9.1% of children aged 0-5 are overweight.
Among school-aged children (6-10), 10.1% are overweight and 3.9% are obese.
For adolescents, the numbers continue to climb, proving that "looking normal" or even "well-fed" can mask a body that is still, in fact, profoundly malnourished.
The Shield: Fortification and Education
How do we fight an enemy that attacks from two different directions? The answer lies in balance and legislation.
The Philippine government has struck back with Republic Act No. 11037, also known as the "Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act." This law established a national feeding program to provide free, nutritious meals—including milk, vegetables, and vitamins—to rehabilitate those suffering from "wasted" nutritional status.
Industry leaders are also joining the fray. Carmina Evangelista, a marketing manager for a leading powdered milk company, emphasizes that the solution must be accessible. The consumption of fortified milk is a primary weapon in this fight. By enriching milk with iron, zinc, and Vitamin C, we can strengthen the immune systems of children, ensuring they aren't just full, but truly fueled.
A Call to Action
The battle against malnourishment isn't just fought in government halls or laboratories; it’s fought at the dinner table. To save the next generation, we must:
Embrace Variety: Incorporate affordable vegetable options into daily budgets.
Prioritize Fortification: Use products specifically designed to fill nutritional gaps.
Reject Fads: Move away from "food fads" and toward balanced, sustainable diets.
The health of the Filipino learner is the health of the nation. Whether it is the hunger of "too little" or the imbalance of "too much," the time to act is now—before the silence of this crisis becomes a permanent scar on our future.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
.jpg)
Post a Comment