City officials and employees have set the example in combating the prevalence of overweight and obesity among their ranks.
In her report during the regular Monday flag raising ceremony, Dr. Donabel Panes, head of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) of the City Health Services Office, disclosed that the city started the campaign against overweight and obesity with the profiling of city officials and employees to come up with programs and activities towards a healthier community.
Last June 2, 2023, the CHSO initially profiled 315 of its health workers and volunteers and from June 6, 2023, other offices followed.
Based on the results of the initial screening of some 1,443 respondents where more than 52 percent were males and 40 percent were females, 42 percent of them were overweight, 20 percent were obese, 36 percent were said to be healthy and 1.7 percent were reportedly underweight.
Panes claimed that the American Heart Association stated that adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activities.
According to her, while 150 minutes of physical activity may sound like a lofty goal, experts claim that if the same is broken down day by day, one should meet that goal by walking for about 20 minutes a day.
Panes asserted that walking everyday is not for everyone and that is okay as there are many other activities that one can do to improve his or her cardiovascular health such as yoga, running, swimming, cycling, dancing, weightlifting, climbing stairs, jumping rope, hiking, and even engaging in gardening or heavy yard work, like digging, can help one’s heart, mind and body.
She added that some other things that one can do to improve his or her heart health and strength is to eat nutritious diet, including a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as protein from plants and seafoods; cut down on high sugar foods like candy and soda and limit foods rich in salt such as frozen meals and snacks and canned goods; avoid smoking and quit if you do; limit alcohol intake and manage one’s stress levels.
