Eastern Visayas nutrition situation reported

By JACK C. GADAINGAN
September 18, 2019

TACLOBAN CITY – Based on 2018 Operation Timbang Plus of pre-school children aged 0-59 months Samar province ranks first in the provincial ranking on underweight and severely underweight with a prevalence of 13.7%, followed by Northern Samar province in second with a prevalence of 9.5%, and by Eastern Samar province in third with a prevalence of 8.4%. In fourth is Leyte province with 8.3%, fifth Biliran province with 7.5%, and Southern Leyte province in sixth with 5.9%.

Among the cities in Region 8, Baybay City ranks first with a prevalence of 11.9%, Calbayog City in second with a prevalence of 10.3%, and Borongan City in third with a prevalence of 9.3%. This is followed by Ormoc City in fourth with 7.3%, Catbalogan City in fifth with 6.9%, Maasin City in sixth with 3.5%, and Tacloban City in seventh with 3.4%. A child is underweight when his/her weight is lower or below the normal weight for his/her age.

Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo Jr., National Nutrition Council Region VIII (NNC-8) Regional Nutrition Program coordinator, detailed this in a presentation of Local Nutrition Situation during the conduct of “Asin Summit” at the Department of Education (DepEd) Leyte Division Gymnasium in Palo, Leyte on July 26, 2019.

In terms of stunting Samar again ranks first in provincial ranking with a prevalence of 29.1%, followed by Leyte in second with a prevalence of 18.7%, and Northern Samar in third with a prevalence of 18.5%. Biliran province follows in fourth with 18.5%, Eastern Samar in fifth with 17.1%, and Southern Leyte in sixth with 14.1%.

Among the cities Baybay City again ranks first in stunting with a prevalence of 24.5%, likewise followed by Calbayog City in second with a prevalence of 21.4%, and Ormoc City in third with a prevalence of 19.2%. Borongan City comes in fourth with 18.7%, Tacloban City in fifth with 17.7%, Catbalogan City in sixth with 16.7%, and Maasin City in seventh with 7.4%. Stunting is a condition when a child’s height is lower or below the normal height for his/her age.

On wasting or Weight for Length/Height, Biliran province topped in first with a prevalence of 5.4% (1,122 magnitude), Northern Samar follows in second with a prevalence of 5.4%, Leyte in third with prevalence of 5.1%. Samar province in fourth with 4.9%, Eastern Samar in fifth with 4.2%, and Southern Leyte in sixth with 4.0%.

Among the cities Baybay City ranks first with a prevalence of 7.1%, Calbayog City second with a prevalence of 6.4%, Ormoc City third with a prevalence of 5.3%. Borongan City fourth with 5.3%, Catbalongan City fifth with 5.2%, Tacloban City sixth with 4.9%, and Maasin City in seventh with 1.4%. Wasting is when a child’s body weight in proportion to his/her length, height or thinness is low relative to the standard weight-for-length/height.

In terms of overweight and obesity, Northern Samar ranks first in provincial ranking with a prevalence of 4.3%, Samar ranks second with a prevalence of 4.2%, Eastern Samar in third with a prevalence of 4.1%. Leyte in fourth with 3.9%, Southern Leyte in fifth with 3.9%, and Biliran in sixth with 3.5%.

Among the cities, Baybay City again ranks first with a prevalence of 6.3%, Catbalogan City in second with a prevalence of 5.3%, Ormoc City in third with a prevalence of 5.0%. Borongan City in fourth with 4.6%, Tacloban City in fifth with 3.7%, Calbayog City in sixth with 3.1%, and Maasin City in seventh with 1.8%. Overweight and obesity is when a child’s body weight in proportion to length/height or fatness is high relative to the standard weight for his/her weight-for-length/height.