Obesity among WV preschool kids up in 2021, NNC says

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Data from the National Nutrition Council-Region 6 (NNC-6) indicated that incidences of stunting and wasting among young kids in Western Visayas continued to decline in 2021, but obesity has risen slightly from the previous year.

Prevalence of stunting among children aged 0 to 59 months (almost 5 years old) in the region has decreased significantly from 10.89 percent in 2017 to 6.85 percent in 2021.

Antique posted the highest incidence of stunting in 2021 (12.09 percent), followed by Aklan (10.85 percent), Iloilo province (7.6 percent), Negros Occidental (7.57 percent), Capiz (6.81 percent), and Guimaras (6.49 percent).

As to stunting in highly urbanized cities, Iloilo City recorded 3.04 percent in 2021 while Bacolod City logged 4.34 percent.

The top 10 towns with stunting prevalence in 2021 include:

• Don Salvador Bendicto, Negros Occidental (25.46 percent);
• Balasan, Iloilo (25.3 percent);
• Laua-an, Antique (23.98 percent);
• Malinao, Aklan (22.9 percent);
• Tangalan, Aklan (22.81 percent);
• San Miguel, Iloilo (21.07 percent);
• Patnongon, Antique (20.57 percent);
• Sara, Iloilo (20.2 percent);
• New Washington, Aklan (19.47 percent); and
• Carles, Iloilo (19.09 percent).

The World Health Organization refers to stunting where a child is too short for their age.

Wasting incidences among kids aged 0 to 59 months, meanwhile, have gone down to 1.85 percent in 2021 from 2.95 percent in 2017.

Aklan logged the highest wasting prevalence in 2021 (3.22 percent), followed by Antique (2.49 percent), Negros Occidental (2.22 percent), Capiz (1.91 percent), Iloilo province (1.59 percent), and Guimaras (1.29 percent).

Iloilo City logged 1.29 percent for wasting in 2021, while Bacolod City had 0.8 percent.

The top 10 Region 6 towns with high wasting prevalence in 2021 are:

• New Washington, Aklan (9.8 percent);
• Libacao, Aklan (7.95 percent);
• Panay, Capiz (7.66 percent);
• Balasan, Iloilo (6.3 percent);
• Valderrama, Antique (6.07 percent);
• Batan, Aklan (6 percent);
• Malinao, Aklan (5.75 percent);
• Altavas, Aklan (5.7 percent);
• San Miguel, Iloilo (5.34 percent); and
• Laua-an, Antique (5.3 percent).

Wasting, in nutrition, refers to children having a low ratio between their weight and height.

But despite the promising numbers for stunting and wasting, the same cannot be said for obesity and overweight incidences in the region.

From a high of 2.95 percent in 2017, overweight and obese children aged 0 to 59 months have gone down to 2.25 percent in 2019 but rose to 2.41 percent in 2020 and to 2.62 percent in 2021.

Aklan has the most number of overweight and obese children aged 0 to 59 months in 2021 (4.05 percent), followed by Antique (3.43 percent), Capiz (3.42 percent), Iloilo province (3.14 percent), Guimaras (3.12 percent), and Negros Occidental (1.87 percent).

Iloilo City has 2.81 percent of obese kids in the said age group in 2021, while Bacolod City has had 1.28 percent.

The top 10 towns with overweight and obese kids aged 0 to 59 months in 2021 include:

• San Miguel, Iloilo (11.78 percent);
• New Washington, Aklan (10.57 percent);
• Zarraga, Iloilo (10.49 percent);
• Panit-an, Capiz (8.6 percent);
• Barbara, Iloilo (8.39 percent);
• Pavia, Iloilo (7.78 percent);
• Barotac Viejo, Iloilo (7.67 percent);
• Malinao, Aklan (7.49 percent);
• Balasan, Iloilo (7.48 percent); and
• Libacao, Aklan (7.13 percent).

The WHO defines obesity as an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.

These results from the NNC-6 were culled through their Operation Timbang, which is the annual measurement activity of the NNC nationwide involving the weight and length of the height of all preschoolers 0-59 months old in a community.