The National Nutrition Council – NCR and various stakeholders in Metro Manila pledged their commitment to support the fight against the growing problem of overweight and obesity in the country during the Stakeholders’ Forum held on 28 July 2015 at the Bayview Park Hotel, Manila.

At the forum, stakeholders from the academe, non-government organizations, national government agencies and local government units recognized that the problem of overweight and obesity in the country has continued to escalate through the years and has now become a nutrition emergency that needs to be addressed.

Dr. Mianne Silvestre of Kalusugan ng Mag-Ina, Inc. discussed the importance of breastfeeding and proper nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child to prevent overweight and obesity. Dr. Ana Lea Elizaga of the DOH-NCRO shared with the participants the causes and consequences of overweight and obesity as well as the efforts of the DOH in combating this malnutrition problem. Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo encouraged everyone to respond to the call to action to fight overweight and obesity. She explained the current efforts and the recommended actions to prevent and control overweight and obesity. There is a need to act now and make things happen.

To get their commitment in the fight against overweight and obesity, RNPC Federizo led the group in reciting the Nutrition Month Pledge to do the “PWEDE GAWIN”, an acronym for activities that an individual can do in support of the fight against overnutrition. Participants also wrote their pledges/promises on how they can achieve healthy weight on small pieces of paper and these were posted on the “Pangako Sa Yo” Board.

The forum was able raise the awareness of the stakeholders on the growing problem of overweight and obesity, its causes, effects and consequences and what actions should be done to prevent and control this new nutrition emergency. The NNC-NCR enjoins the stakeholders and the general public to achieve healthy weight through proper nutrition and regular physical exercise. “Timbang iwasto sa tamang nutrisyon at ehersisyo!”. (TAR/MEVF/NNCNCR)