Obesity in young Filipinos rising

Obesity is now on the rise among Filipino adults ages 20 and up, and threatens to increase the number of people having degenerative diseases, a DoST study showed.

MANILA, Philippines — Obesity is now on the rise among Filipino adults ages 20 and up, and threatens to increase the number of people having degenerative diseases like heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, as study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) showed.

The increase was discovered in 2008 when it registered a trend in the study conducted by the DoST’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

Based on the study, there were about 20 out of 100 adults of both sexes who were overweight 1998. The figure then increased to 24 and 27 out of 100 in 2003 and 2008, respectively.

In the 2008 survey, 2.7% Filipino adults aged 20 years and over are suffering from impaired fasting glucose, while hyperglycemia or high fasting blood sugar (FBS) level is 4.8%.

The prevalence of hypertension among adults is 25%, increasing with age starting from age 40-49 years.

Overweight, when left unattended, may result in many chronic degenerative diseases like heart diseases, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes is a disease characterized by elevated blood sugar levels due to deficiency or absence of insulin which is needed to utilize blood sugar to turn it into energy.

It causes sugar levels in the blood to increase. Individuals having fasting blood sugar level equal to or greater than 100-125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) are considered having impaired glucose level, while those with blood sugar level equal to or greater than 125 mg/dl are classified as diabetics.

The signs and symptoms of diabetes are numerous including frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, sudden weight loss, weakness and fatigue, recurring or hard to heal wound or gum infection, drowsiness, tingling or numbness in hands or feet, itching of skin and genitals, sudden vision changes, and blurred vision. –GABRIEL S. MABUTAS, Manila Bulletin