OBESE composite image from Inquirer files
MANILA, Philippines鈥擜round 38 percent of Filipino adults live with a high Body Mass Index (BMI); by 2030, this number is projected to rise to 34.12 million. Yet, the Philippines 鈥� along with most countries worldwide 鈥� remains unprepared to tackle the growing obesity crisis.
Findings from the latest World Obesity Atlas, released by the World Obesity Federation on March 4 for World Obesity Day, paints a worrying picture.
The report warns that only seven percent of countries have adequate health system plans in place to address obesity, while two-thirds of nations lack even the most basic policies needed to curb its rise.
What is BMI and why does it matter?
According to the American Heart Association, BMI is a measure of body fat based on a person鈥檚 weight and height. It is widely used as a screening tool to assess whether someone is underweight, has a normal weight, or is at risk of obesity-related health conditions.
The BMI categories include:
- Underweight: Below 18.5 kg/m虏
- Normal weight: 18.5 鈥� 24.9 kg/m虏
- Overweight: 25 鈥� 29.9 kg/m虏
- Obese: 30 kg/m虏 and above
A high BMI is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. The higher the BMI, the greater the risk of developing these conditions.
On the other hand, being underweight also comes with health risks, including weakened immunity, nutritional deficiencies, and increased vulnerability to infections and illnesses.
Burden of obesity in PH
The impact of high BMI is already being felt in the country. In 2021 alone, obesity-related diseases were responsible for 30,329 premature deaths, which means tens of thousands of Filipinos lost their lives too soon due to conditions linked to excess weight.
READ:
Meanwhile, the burden of illness due to obesity was significant, with affected individuals collectively losing over 308,000 years to diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
The situation is expected to worsen. Over the past two decades, obesity rates have surged, and projections show they will keep rising, with at least one in ten Filipinos living with obesity by 2025.
READ: Obesity trend among Filipinos to continue in next 20 yrs 鈥� expert
In 2010, less than a million Filipino men were classified as obese, but by 2030, that number is expected to triple, reaching over 3 million. A similar pattern is seen among women, with obesity rates expected to more than double, increasing from 1.5 million to over 4 million in the same period.
Why is obesity rising in PH?
Several factors contribute to the increasing number of Filipinos struggling with high BMI.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), the risk of being overweight and obese among Filipinos can be attributed to both individual lifestyle choices and the 鈥渓ack of supportive environments to make healthy choices such as moving more and eating right.鈥�
鈥淗ence, interventions that address the social determinants of health, highlighting the need to integrate health in all public policies, to enable behavior change and create supportive environments must be put in place,鈥� said Assistant Health Secretary Beverly Lorraine C. Ho.
鈥淲e need to make healthier food options in communities, schools, and workplaces more available, affordable, and accessible to all Filipinos, and we must make our public infrastructure such as parks, roads and pathways be more conducive to physical activity and active mobility,鈥� she added.
READ:
Studies also found a growing consumption of unhealthy, processed foods. The easy availability of sugary drinks, fast food, and calorie-dense snacks has fueled rapid weight gain across all age groups.
While the government has introduced a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, Filipinos still consume a significant amount, averaging between 500ml to 1 liter per person per week.
To put that into perspective, that鈥檚 one to two regular 500ml soda bottles every week, translating to about 20 to 40 tablespoons of sugar just from beverages alone. Over a year, this adds up to 52 to 104 liters of sugary drinks 鈥� enough to fill a large cooler or even a small drum.
This far exceeds the WHO and DOH recommended sugar intake of 6 to 12 teaspoons per day (14 to 28 tablespoons per week). Many Filipinos already surpass this limit through sugary drinks alone, even before factoring in sugar from other foods.
A global epidemic
The obesity crisis is not limited to the Philippines. Worldwide, obesity rates have been increasing at an alarming pace. By 2030, an estimated 1.13 billion people will be living with obesity 鈥� more than double the number recorded in 2010.
READ: More than one billion now afflicted by obesity: Lancet
This surge comes with devastating health consequences, as excess weight is now responsible for around 1.6 million deaths annually. To put that into perspective, more people die from obesity-related diseases than from road accidents each year.
Obesity is also driving a rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. In 2021 alone, nearly 27 percent of the global burden of avoidable ill-health from NCDs was linked to high BMI. The impact is even more severe for type 2 diabetes, with over half of the global disease burden attributed to obesity and overweight.
The Atlas likewise noted that, across the globe, severe obesity or Class II obesity is becoming increasingly common. The number of adults with a BMI over 35 kg/m虏, a level where medical treatment is often required, is expected to more than double globally 鈥� from 157 million in 2010 to 385 million in 2030.
The trend is particularly alarming in developing regions, where health systems are often unprepared to handle the surge in obesity-related illnesses.
In Africa, the number of adults with severe obesity is projected to increase by more than 200 percent, from 11.8 million in 2010 to 37.2 million in 2030. In the Eastern Mediterranean region, the number is expected to more than triple, rising from 21.6 million to 68 million鈥攁n increase of over 214 percent. Meanwhile, the Americas will see a rise of more than 100 percent, with cases growing from 63 million to 136 million.
Europe is also experiencing a significant increase, with the number of adults with severe obesity expected to rise by over 50 percent, from 41.3 million to 63 million. However, the sharpest increases are projected in Southeast Asia, where cases are expected to surge by over 300 percent, from 9.3 million to 37.3 million.
In the Western Pacific region, which includes the Philippines, the number of adults with severe obesity is set to grow by nearly 400 percent, from 9.3 million to 43 million.
Gaps in policies
Despite these alarming figures, most countries 鈥� including the Philippines 鈥� lack sufficient policies to curb obesity.
The World Obesity Federation鈥檚 analysis of national policies shows that two-thirds of countries have implemented only one or none of the five key strategies recommended to address obesity. These include taxes on sugary drinks, regulations on unhealthy food marketing, and incentives for healthier eating and active lifestyles
While the Philippines has introduced some national policies to address obesity, significant gaps remain.
There are national guidelines for managing high BMI and physical inactivity, and recent surveys have been conducted on obesity, diet, and exercise. However, the country lacks a national strategy for managing NCDs in primary healthcare, which means many Filipinos struggling with obesity-related illnesses do not have proper medical support
Urgent need for policy action
Experts stress that addressing obesity requires more than just individual lifestyle changes 鈥� it demands strong government intervention.
The World Obesity Federation is urging governments worldwide to adopt a whole-of-society approach that includes strengthening health systems, expanding food regulations, and creating environments that promote physical activity.
The global organization stressed that a well-prepared health system should integrate obesity prevention and management into primary healthcare services, ensuring that every individual receives medical guidance and support before their weight-related conditions worsen.
At the same time, stricter food regulations 鈥� such as improved food labeling, tighter restrictions on unhealthy product marketing, and stronger nutrition education programs 鈥� are needed to help consumers make healthier choices.
Beyond healthcare and food policies, reshaping the built environment is essential to promoting active lifestyles. Investing in parks, safe pedestrian walkways, and bike-friendly infrastructure can encourage physical activity not just in the Philippines but worldwide.
The organization also recommended that workplaces implement wellness programs to support employees in staying active and making healthier choices.
The Philippines is at a crossroads. If no urgent action is taken, obesity will continue to drive up healthcare costs, reduce workforce productivity, and lead to a surge in preventable diseases. The World Obesity Federation warns that obesity is not just a personal issue 鈥� it is a national health crisis that requires immediate and coordinated action.
With the right policies, public awareness, and collective effort, the country can slow down the rising obesity trend and prevent a future healthcare disaster. The time to act is now, before the weight of this crisis becomes too heavy to bear.
Graphics by Ed Lustan/Inquirer.net. Sources: Institute for Health Metrics 2024, WHO Global Health Observatory 2024, NCD Risk Factor Collaboration 2024, UN Population Division 2024, Lara-Castor et al 2023 (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41269-8), World Obesity Federation 2024