Doctors blame “fat” food chains, gadgets, sedentary lifestyle
Dr. Randy P. Urtula highlights the causes behind rising obesity rates among Filipino children during the PPS Central Visayas 2025 Convention in Cebu City.
Obesity among Filipino school children continues to be on the rise and when left unaddressed, these children will potentially grow up to be adults facing multiple health challenges.
This was raised in the recent 2025 Annual Convention hosted by the Philippine Pediatric Society Central Visayas Chapter in Cebu City. Experts shared alarming data showing that more Filipino children are becoming overweight at an earlier age.
Citing statistics from the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), Dr. Randy P. Urtula, FPPS, FPSPGHAN, said that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Filipino children aged 5 to 10 years old has been steadily rising for two decades—from 5.7% in 2003 to a peak of 14.0% in 2021.
“There was a slight dip in 2023 at 12.9% but the country remains “off track” based on our Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) targets. The PPAN aims to bring the figure down to just 0.6% by 2028, but even the 2023 goal of 11.8% was missed, signaling the urgent need for stronger intervention,” he said.
Health experts warned that this worrying trend reflects more than just poor food choices—it reveals how today’s environment has become increasingly obesogenic or promotes obesity through unhealthy life choices.
Health experts described unhealthy lifestyle habits that promote weight gain. This includes the abundance of fast food chains and convenience stores that make calorie-dense, nutrient-poor food more accessible than ever. Sedentary lifestyles, lack of daily physical activity, and increased screen time from computers and gadgets further contribute to weight gain.
Dr. Urtula added that sleep deprivation, a common issue even among young children, also plays a role by disrupting metabolism and increasing appetite for sugary and fatty foods. Collectively, these conditions have made obesity not just an individual issue, but what many experts now call a “disease of civilization.”
“Children are growing up in environments where unhealthy food is more accessible than nutritious options,” Dr. Urtula explained. “Ultra-processed products like sweetened cereals, packaged snacks, and flavored drinks dominate the market, while misleading marketing and lack of better choices shape eating habits early.”
A UNICEF study underscored this reality, finding that more than one-third of packaged foods for infants and young children contain added sugars or sweeteners. Among snack products such as biscuits, an alarming 87% were found to contain added sugars—yet there are still no binding regulations to limit sugar content in food for young children.
UNICEF also analyzed more than 1,000 social media advertisements promoted 20 popular food and beverage brands for children and families. The result: 98% of these ads promoted unhealthy products, violating the World Health Organization’s guidelines on marketing food and beverages to children.
In addition, Dr. Urtula said that misleading nutrition claims worsen the problem.
“Many packaged products labeled as “healthy, fortified, or natural” are actually high in sugar, sodium, or unhealthy fats. There must be stronger food marketing regulations,” he said, which was echoed by the doctor attendees. They called for restrictions in marketing products that are high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats.
A call for strengthened commitment in early childhood nutrition
Doctors highlight the importance of early nutrition as a key investment in a child’s future health.
The discussion between Dr. Urtula and moderator, Dr. Jan Pofer Mantos, also highlighted the importance of establishing healthy eating habits from early childhood as doctors cited the importance of nutrition during the formative years as a strong foundation for lifelong health and development.
Milk, in particular, was mentioned as an essential component of a child’s balanced diet. “Milk is very important to be taken by children,” Dr. Urtula said, sharing the great impact of milk on the child’s health.
The speaker highlighted that not all milk products are created equal and encouraged parents to make sure that their milk of choice contains all the nutrients needed for their children’s growth.
