Exercise should be regarded as tribute to the heart. – Gene Tunney

The Central Luzon (CL) Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC) led by its Chair, DOH CL CHD Regional Director Cesar C. Cassion approved the implementation of the “Be Fit and Stronger” Challenge contest. The approval was made during the First CL Regional Nutrition Cluster meeting through google meet on 14 May 2020.

The contest is a revival of the biggest loser challenge in 2010, spearheaded by the DOH CL CHD, now dubbed as “Be Fit and Stronger” Challenge, proposed by RD Cassion and RD William Beltran of the Philippine Information Agency-Regional Office III during the Third Quarter Meeting of the CL RCN on 20 November 2019.

The contest aims to reduce the prevalence of overnutrition among government employees in the region which will run for six months, from 1 September 2020 to 22 February 2021.

The terms “be fit and stronger” were highlighted as the “project title” to emphasize that a person engaged in physical activity should not only be concerned in having a “trimmed” body but should also have endurance and strength when exposed to strenuous activity.

The “Be Fit and Strong” challenge contest will be done in partnership with the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBBLMRH) to do the physical and laboratory examination of the employees of RNC member agencies who will be enrolled in the program. The Central Luzon Association of Regional Officers, composed of the regional directors or head of national government agencies, will be asked to support the project.

Unlike other contests, the “Be Fit and Stronger Challenge” has a different twist as it will also engage the participation of the agencies of the employees who will participate in the contest. The objective is for the agency to provide support and to motivate their participating employees to continue with their weight management program. The participating agency will also submit their Weight Management Project Plan for CY 2020-2021 and will be monitored and evaluated by the Regional Technical Working Group on Nutrition.

At the end of the contest, there will be two categories of awards – the agency category and individual or employee category. The Guidelines on the Biggest Loser Contest among Government Employees of Central Luzon (“Be Fit and Stronger Challenge” Contest) can be viewed through this link https://www.nnc.gov.ph/component/phocadownload/category/84.

Results of the 2015 National Nutrition Survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology revealed that Central Luzon is one among the 16 regions of the country with a high prevalence of overweight and obesity across all ages. Thirty-two percent (32.7%) of adults in Central Luzon or 3 out of 10 are either overweight or obese based on the WHO BMI classification and the prevalence is higher than the national prevalence of 31.1%.

Overweight and obesity as defined by the World Health Organization or WHO, is a condition of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases or NCD, a leading cause of premature deaths (deaths between the ages of 30-70).

Based on the World Health Organization, the consumption of unhealthy meals, carbonated and highly concentrated drinks/juices and physical inactivity contributes to the growing incidence of obesity and can lead to poor nutrition and is one of the major risk factors for a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers, diabetes and other conditions linked to obesity.

The high percentage of overweight and obese among government workforce in the region can affect their health and productivity and increases the risk for non-communicable diseases and premature deaths.

The project also aims to achieve the provisions indicated in the CL RNC Resolution No. 3 s. 2019 on the Adoption of the NNC Governing Board Policy Statement on Nutrition Programs for Government Workers signed during the First Quarter Meeting of the CL CHD on 9 January 2019, which is consistent with the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, 2017-2022 and existing national policies and programs such as the Pilipinas Go 4 Health program, National Occupational Health and Safety Policy Framework (DOLE-DOH-CSC Joint Administrative Order 2017-001 dated 13 February 2017).

Authors: NO II Rose Anne M. Cuyco/NPC Ana Maria B. Rosaldo