Obesity among Filipino adults, adolescents rises in 2025 — new FNRI survey

The prevalence of obesity among Filipino adults and adolescents, has continued to rise, according to the latest 2025 nutritional survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), which cited physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol use as likely contributing factors.

These were among the key findings of the 2025 update of the Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups survey, which was presented during the National Nutrition Summit on Wednesday.

The survey found that four out of 10 Filipinos aged 20 to 59, or 44.5%, are classified as obese, nearly five percentage points higher than the 39.8% recorded in 2023. It also found that around two in 10 adults, or 17.1%, are overweight.

Obesity prevalence among adults was significantly higher among female at 50.1%, urban residents at 48.3%, and those belonging to the wealthiest quintile at 57.8%, based on the Asia-Pacific Body Mass Index (BMI) classification.

By region, the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the highest prevalence of obesity among adults at 52.7%, followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at 50.6% and Central Luzon at 49.6%, all higher than the national estimate.

DoST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. said obesity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), affecting people’s health, productivity, and quality of life.

“The continued rise in obesity among Filipino adults is a serious reminder that nutrition challenges are evolving alongside changing lifestyle and food environments,” Mr. Solidum said in a statement.

“Obesity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases and affects the health, productivity, and quality of life of our people,” he added.

According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), NCDs such as ischemic heart disease, neoplasms, and cerebrovascular diseases were the leading causes of death among Filipinos in 2024.

A similar trend was observed among Filipino adolescents, with one in six, or 15.6%, classified as overweight or obese, up from 12.5% in 2023, the survey said.

Overnutrition among adolescents was higher among males at 16.7%, urban residents at 18%, and those belonging to the wealthiest quintile at 28.3%.

Central Luzon recorded the highest prevalence at 23.4%, followed by NCR at 21.3%. CAR 19.7%, and the Ilocos Region at 19.1%.

However, the survey noted slight improvements in undernutrition indicators among adolescents, with the prevalence of wasting declining to 9.6% from 11.5%, while stunting remained relatively unchanged at 21.4%.

The increase in overweight and obesity among Filipino adults and adolescents may be attributed to persistent behavioral risk factors, including physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, which contribute to the development of NCDs, according to the survey.

Among adults, 45.7% said they were physically inactive, while 38.6% reported consuming alcohol in the past 30 days and 24.9% identified themselves as current smokers.

Among adolescents, 77.5% were found to be insufficiently physically active, while 9.1% reported consuming alcohol in the previous 30 days and 4.5% said they were current smokers.

“The rise in overweight and obesity among adolescents underscores the need to promote healthier food choices, active lifestyles, and supportive environments for Filipinos,” Mr. Solidum said.

Amid the persistently high burden of obesity and malnutrition among Filipinos, the study said targeted interventions are needed to address emerging health risks and growing public health concerns.

DoST-FNRI cited several initiatives supporting nutrition policies and programs aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles. These include efforts to develop front-of-pack labeling systems that would help Filipino consumers make informed food choices.

Mr. Solidum, meanwhile, called for greater urgency and stronger collaboration among government agencies and other stakeholders following the survey findings.

“I call upon our fellow national government agencies, local government units, the academe, researchers, development partners, and the private sector: let us act with greater urgency, strengthened coordination, and shared accountability,” he said in his keynote speech during the summit.

The 2025 update of the Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups survey is conducted every two to three years between regular rounds of the National Nutrition Survey by the Department of Science and Technology-FNRI (DoST-FNRI). — Edg Adrian A. Eva