Health group urges Filipinos to adopt healthy lifestyle

This section of the Baguio public market, shown here in 2022, has been a crowd drawer for salad greens that cost a lot less than those sold in supermarkets.

MANILA, Philippines — A public health advocacy group on Monday urged Filipino families to prioritize their health and prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

In a statement, the Healthy Philippines Alliance (HPA) emphasized that adopting a healthy lifestyle is crucial in preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and mental health conditions.

The group encouraged Filipinos, especially the youth, to replace poor diets with nutritious ones by avoiding ultra-processed food like chips, hotdogs, sweetened beverages, and other ready-to-eat products.

“The habits we develop in childhood and adolescence often carry over into adulthood. As we embrace and pledge for a healthier year ahead, let’s remember our significant role in creating healthier environments and systems,” HPA Youth Network Lead Convenor Alyannah Lagasca’s statement reads.

“By starting with ourselves and shifting towards lifestyles that promote good health and well-being, we can inspire the young, our loved ones, and peers to do the same,” she added.

The HPA also reminded NCD patients to remain mindful of their health during year-end feasts and celebrations to manage their conditions and prevent potential complications effectively.

“We all want to enjoy the food and festivities for Media Noche, but NCD patients need to take extra precaution, especially in terms of their diet. We encourage them to keep an eye on their health, including their blood pressure, blood sugar, or medications,” HPA member Paul Mendoza said.

Mendoza, who also serves as the Secretary of the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations and President of Psoriasis Philippines, emphasized that it is best for NCD patients to consult their healthcare providers for proper monitoring and to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.

According to the HPA, NCDs account for 70 percent of total deaths in the Philippines, claiming the lives of more than 600,000 Filipinos annually.

Moreover, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that NCDs remained the leading cause of death in the country from January to June 2024.

Ischemic heart disease ranked first, claiming 49,577 lives. Neoplasms or cancers came in second with 27,396 deaths, followed by cerebrovascular diseases like stroke with 25,186 cases. Diabetes ranked fifth, accounting for 15,617 deaths.

Given these cases, former Health Secretary and HPA Lead Convenor Jaime Galvez Tan said Filipinos and their families must be continuously protected from the burden of NCDs.

“We call on our national and local government officials to make a commitment as their New Year’s Resolution to take decisive action and implement policy interventions that will address the urgent threat of NCDs and combat its risk factors such as smoking, vaping, and unhealthy diets to safeguard our nation’s health,” Tan’s statement reads.

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