The Cordillera office of the National Nutrition Council (NNC-CAR) reported that malnutrition cases in the region based on the established indicators are reportedly decreasing as the data gathered from the results of the Operation Timbang Plus this year showed that the malnutrition status of children is already below the national average.
NNC Nutrition Officer Velanie Dao-ines stated that on the prevalence of stunting among 0-59 months old children in 2023, Mountain Province reported the highest with 11.17 percent followed by Apayao with 9.96 percent, Abra – 9.16percent, Kalinga – 6.81 percent, Benguet – 5.23 percent, Ifugao – 4.07 percent and Baguio City – 1.58 percent.
However, the average prevalence of stunting in the Cordillera of 5.96 percent is below the national average of 7.4 percent.
On the prevalence of wasting among under 5 children, Abra recorded the highest with 1.75 percent followed by Apayao with 1.65 percent, Kalinga – 1.27 percent, Mountain Province 0.91 percent, Benguet – 0.63 percent, Ifugao 0.44 percent and Baguio City 0.25 percent.
Further, the average prevalence of wasting in the region of 1.4 percent is again below the national average of 2 percent.
On the prevalence of underweight among 0-59 months old children, Abra registered the highest with 5.48 percent followed by Apayao with 4.14 percent, Mountain Province – 3.45 percent, Kalinga – 2.88 percent, Benguet – 1.39 percent, Ifugao – 1.36 percent and Baguio City – 1.13 percent.
Dao-ines claimed that the average prevalence of underweight among 0-59 months old children in the region, which is 2.44 percent, is below the national average of 2.96 percent.
Apayao reported the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among 0-59 months old children with 2.97 percent followed by Abra – 2.54 percent, Kalinga – 2.43 percent, Mountain Province – 2.08 percent, Benguet – 1.92 percent, Ifugao – 1.68 percent and Baguio City – 0.43 percent.
According to her, the average prevalence of overweight and obesity among 0-59 months old children in the region which is 2.02 percent is much lower compared to the national average of 2.44 percent.
The NNC-CAR official noted that 54 percent of stunted individuals are males while 46 percent are said to be females while in terms of underweight children, 52 percent are females and 48 percent are males.
In terms of wasted individuals, 55 percent are males while 45 percent are females while in terms of overweight and obesity among children, 58 percent are males while 42 percent are females.
In terms of age group, most of the underweight children belong to those who are in the age group 35-47 months with 24 percent followed by those in the age groups 24-35 months and 48-59 months with 23 percent each, those belonging to the 12-23 months age group – 19 percent, those belonging to the 6-11 months age group – 6 percent and those in the 0-5 months age group – 5 percent.
Dao-ines claimed that stunting among under 5 children remains a challenge that the region must address.
Among under 5 children, Abra has the highest prevalence of malnourished children. Prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among under 5 children in the Cordillera has been consistently decreasing over the past 3 years but the prevalence of overweight and obesity among under 5 children is generally increasing. By Dexter A. See
