Legislators respond to alarming trends in childhood obesity and diet-related diseases

Responding to alarming trends in childhood obesity and diet-related diseases, 44 lawmakers are championing bills to create a healthy food environment in the Philippines.

House Bills (HB) 130, 560, 819, and 2660 or the Healthy Food Environment (HFE) bills, filed by Representatives Maria Rachel Arenas, Jaime Fresnedi, Reynolds Michael Tan, and Nathaniel Oducado, aim to empower Filipinos to avoid unhealthy food by mandating warning labels on pre-packaged food and beverages high in sugar, sodium, or fats, and by restricting the marketing of these products to children. HB 2541, or the Front-of-Package Warning Label (FOPWL) Act filed by Rep. Samantha Santos, meanwhile, echoes the requirement of a warning label.

According to the 2023 National Nutrition Survey, 12.9% of children aged 5 to 10 and 12.5% of adolescents aged 10-19 are now overweight or obese. The numbers climb even higher among adults, with 17.3% overweight and 39.8% obese, while among the elderly, 19% are overweight and 32.6% are obese. This growing public health crisis is driven in part by aggressive marketing of unhealthy food and beverages, especially to children, who are most vulnerable to persuasive advertising and poor nutrition. Early exposure to poor nutrition not only affects children’s well-being today but also increases their risk of developing heart disease and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood.

The World Health Organization (WHO) further warns that regular consumption of ultra-processed, nutrient-poor food significantly raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

“Sa batas na ito, may kapangyarihan ang Pilipino na protektahan ang kanilang pamilya at mga anak laban sa sakit,” said Rep. Reynolds Michael Tan. “I urge my fellow lawmakers to support this health measure and secure better health for all Filipinos.”

Rep. Jaime Fresnedi added, “Panahon na upang siguraduhin na mas madali at ligtas ang pagpili ng masustansyang pagkain. Ito ay tungkol sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. Alalahanin natin na ang masustansyang pagkain ay hindi pribilehiyo kundi karapatan ng bawat Pilipino.”

Rep. Nathaniel Oducado, a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, emphasized the urgency of the bill, saying, “Hindi lang ito usapin ng kalusugan, kundi pati na rin ng gastos ng gobyerno at pasanin ng bawat pamilya. Panahon na para gawing mas accessible ang healthy choices para sa lahat.”

Drawing from global best practices, these bills take inspiration from Chile’s food policy reforms, which led to reduced consumption of unhealthy food, product reformulation, and a significant decline in children’s exposure to unhealthy food advertising.

As of September 17, 39 co-authors have signed on to support the measures, reflecting a strong legislative momentum and a clear public mandate for nutrition reform. Lawmakers and civil society organizations are now urging the House Committee on Health to act swiftly and prioritize preventive healthcare for Filipino families by conducting a committee hearing on the filed bills.

“These days, we are not just flooded with rainwater. We are flooded with unhealthy ultra-processed food and marketing that makes it harder to choose to be healthy,” said Atty. Sophia San Luis, Executive Director of ImagineLaw, a non-profit organization advocating for evidence-based public health policies. “It is high time for Congress to step in to protect us.”