MANILA, July 10 - -Despite steady
progress in battling malnutrition among Filipino children over the years, an
increase in the prevalence of undernutrition was revealed in the results of the
7th National Nutrition Survey conducted in 2008 by the Food and
Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology
(FNRI-DOST).
There was a significant increase in the
proportion of 0-5 year old children who were underweight, from 24.6 percent in
2005 to 26.2 percent in 2008. Among 6-10 year old children, underweight
prevalence rose significantly from 22.8 percent in 2005 to 25.6 percent in
2008.
Corazon M. Cerdeña, Chief of the
Nutritional Assessment and Monitoring Division of the FNRI-DOST underscored the
importance of child nutrition during the growing years which has a major
influence on health and stature. Cerdeña, who retired in June 2011, further
added that poor maternal nutrition may limit the growth, ability to learn, and
intelligence potential of a child.
Children whose diets lack essential
nutrients show inadequate physical growth that may hamper potential for future
achievements. Nutrition plays a vital role in preventing disease because poor
nutrition limits the body’s ability to resist infection. Inadequate nutrition
adds to the risk of developing chronic illnesses later in life.
Achieving nutritional well-being among
children requires broad action on many issues, such as access to food, clean
water, food safety, promoting healthy diet and lifestyle, regular monitoring of
nutritional status and incorporating nutrition objectives into development
policies and programs. (MOBalitaon, FNRI-DOST/PIA9/alt)