Does PH have among the most underweight people?

The Philippines is among the top 10 countries in the world that have the largest number of underweight men and women, according to a recent report published in the peer-reviewed medical magazine The Lancet.

The report showed that the number of underweight men and women nearly doubled since 1975.

As of 2014, the Philippines ranked 9th for having 3.6 million underweight men, and ranked 8th with 4.4 million underweight women.

In 1975, the Philippines ranked 11th in both genders with 1.9 million underweight men and 2.5 million underweight women.

Topping the list of the country with the most underweight population is India with 101.8 million underweight men and 100.5 million underweight women.

In terms of prevalence, or rate of underweight population, the Philippines is at 14.3 percent for women, or 16th in the world. For men, it is 12.3 percent, which is the 40th globally.

Meanwhile, countries with the highest level of obesity for men are China (1st), United States (2nd), and Brazil (3rd). For women, it is China (1st), US (2nd), and India (3rd).

The study took data from 186 countries. It highlighted the rise of underweight persons from 330 million in 1975 to 462 million in 2014. Likewise, that report also showed that global population of obese people has also risen from 105 million in 1975 to 641 million in 2014.

The study used standardized methods to measure body-mass index (BMI). Its lead author is Professor Majid Ezzati of the School of Public Health at the Imperial College London.

“Over the past four decades, we have transitioned from a world in which underweight prevalence was more than double that of obesity, to one in which more people are obese than underweight…. If post-2000 trends continue, not only will the world not meet the global target for halting the increase in obesity, but also severe obesity will surpass underweight in women by 2025,” the report stated. –Alexander Villafania, ABS-CBN News