BONTOC, Mountain Province – This year, the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) has introduced an interesting twist in its yearly conduct of the weight loss challenge aimed to transform not only participants’ bodies but their lifestyle habits too.
The Municipal Health Office (MHO) led by Municipal Health Officer Dr. Diga Kay Gomez has introduced the 2024 Weight Loss Challenge Program dubbed “Chagsen Challenge with Smoking Cessation and Combating Soft Drinks Addiction”, noting that per report from the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco has killed over eight million people around the world. Accordingly, more than seven million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 1.3 million are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke.
In the municipality, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are among the top 10 leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Of this record, smoking was seen among the top predisposing factors. Also, soda and other sweetened drinks are made with potentially habit-forming ingredients like caffeine and sugar, making it uniquely enjoyable and leading to cravings which can lead to unwanted weight gain and NCDs.
Thus, the twist in the conduct of the 2024 Weight Loss Challenge aims to encourage and support participants to quit smoking and stop soda consumption, which can lead to improved health.
This is open to all smokers and habitual drinkers of soda who are willing to quit smoking and stop soda consumption; along with those 18 years old and above who are overweight and obese and who want to lose weight through healthy diet and exercise.
Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the MHO located at the First Floor of the Bontoc Municipal Capitol since the registration is from March 1-29, 2024.
According to Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Venous Faith Cofulan, there will be one winner in each category. The three categories are the Overall Biggest Loser -regardless of whether he or she quits smoking and drinking soft drinks; the Biggest Loser Who Stopped Drinking Soda – the next biggest loser who also quit drinking soda; and the Non-Smoker – the third biggest loser regardless of whether he or she quits smoking and drinking soft drinks.
Also, participants who are smokers should regularly visit the Municipal Health Officer for counselling; a witness or witnesses are required to vouch for the participants who claim to have stopped smoking and drinking soft drinks; potential winners will be thoroughly interviewed by judges/validators before the final winners will be announced; and a special prize will be given to the Bontoc LGU office with the least consumption of soda from April to September 2024.
The activity aims to improve the health status and quality of life of the participants; determine whether competitions lead to higher long-term smoking quit rates; reduce the financial burden brought by smoking to the individual, the health system, and the society; and prevent non-communicable diseases and pre-mature death through healthy weight loss, smoking cessation, and healthy diet.
It is to be noted that the Weight Loss Program has been institutionalized in 2022 to ensure the continuity of the program. This is through Resolution No.410, s. 2022 passed by the Sangguniang Bayan and was sponsored by Bontoc Mayor Jerome “ Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., who was then a Sangguniang Bayan member and the Chairperson of the Committee on Health and Sanitation.
The Weight Loss Program started as a privately funded program dubbed Chagsen Challenge” (Search for the Biggest Loser) in 2019. Recognizing the importance of the program in the promotion of health and wellness, it was included in the Nutrition Action Plan of the Bontoc LGU. By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay
