Nearly 4 in 10 Filipino adults are now overweight or obese, according to the latest national and international health data released in 2025, a figure that underscores the country’s mounting struggle with diet-related diseases.
The World Obesity Federation’s World Obesity Atlas 2025 ranks the Philippines among countries with persistently high body mass index (BMI) prevalence, reflecting a broader Southeast Asian trend of rising obesity.
At the same time, obesity among children aged 5 to 10 has climbed to 14%, and adolescence (10–19 years) obesity rates have more than doubled since 2003, reaching approximately 13% by 2022.
This surge coincides with national warnings from health officials that such elevated rates place the Philippines at elevated risk for diabetes, hypertension, and other noncommunicable diseases.
Compounding the issue, anemia continues to afflict 30% of women of reproductive age, according to WHO estimates, highlighting the persistent “double burden” of malnutrition.
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A Nation Gaining Weight
According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), nearly 39% of Filipino adults aged 20–59 is now classified as obese, based on findings presented at a stakeholder meeting in early 2025. Obesity prevalence is particularly high in urban areas (44%) and among wealthier adults (53%) compared to just 35% among lower-income groups. This divide highlights how lifestyle, environment, and socioeconomic status interact to drive health outcomes.
This “nutrition transition” mirrors regional changes across Asia. As families shift away from traditional diets of rice, vegetables, and fish, calorie-dense, ultra-processed, and nutrient-poor foods increasingly dominate the Filipino table.
Moreover, the aggressive marketing of fast food, energy drinks, and instant meals, often cheaper than fresh produce, has made poor diet choices both convenient and pervasive.
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Rising Metabolic Risks: Sugar, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol
Behind the growing waistlines are troubling metabolic signals. The 2023 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), released by DOST-FNRI in July 2025, revealed that 7.5% of Filipino adults have very high fasting blood sugar, while another 20% fall into the prediabetic range, a clear sign that diabetes risk is accelerating.
Meanwhile, hypertension remains a silent but growing concern. A 2025 report by the Philippine Information Agency noted that 1 in 10 adults aged 20 to 59 already have elevated blood pressure, often undetected until complications such as stroke or heart attack occur. Among older adults, the prevalence rises dramatically, confirming that age is a critical factor.
Furthermore, cholesterol-related issues are widespread. A regional study on lipid disorders found that nearly 47.5% of Filipino adults have elevated LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol), placing them at increased risk of heart disease and stroke. This combination, rising blood sugar, unchecked hypertension, and high cholesterol, forms a dangerous triad that threatens to overwhelm the health system if left unaddressed.
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Persistent Micronutrient Deficiencies: Iron, Vitamin A, and Iodine
Even as obesity and diet-related diseases rise, the Philippines continues to grapple with serious micronutrient gaps, particularly among women and children. According to the 2023 ENNS results released in 2025, 30% of Filipino women of reproductive age are anemic, with prevalence reaching nearly one in four among pregnant women, a condition linked to higher maternal mortality and low birth weight outcomes.
In addition to this, children are also vulnerable. The same survey found that 15.5% of children aged six months to five years are vitamin A deficient, a level considered a moderate public health problem by WHO and UNICEF. Meanwhile, iodine deficiency also persists. More than 20% of pregnant and lactating women were found to have very low urinary iodine levels, raising concerns about impaired brain development in infants.
Meanwhile in the global scale, WHO estimates that 190 million preschool-aged children and 19 million mothers worldwide suffer from subclinical vitamin A deficiency, while nearly 28.5% of the global population remains at risk of insufficient iodine intake. These figures underline how the Philippines’ challenge fits into a larger international crisis of malnutrition.
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Diabetes Numbers Continue to Climb
Diabetes is another looming crisis. Based on the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas, 11th Edition (2025), an estimated 4.73 million Filipino adults (20–79 years), or 7.5% of the population, are living with diabetes, with numbers expected to climb further due to aging, urbanization, and lifestyle risks.
Moreover, a July 2025 report warned that nearly half of these cases remain undiagnosed, meaning many Filipinos are living with unmanaged diabetes until serious complications arise. This underdiagnosis poses a critical challenge for health systems, as untreated cases lead to greater risks of blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and amputations.
Who is Most Vulnerable?
Disparities in nutrition risks are stark. According to DOST-FNRI’s 2025 report Halfway Point to 2030: Key Findings of the 2023 National Nutrition Survey, overweight and obesity are most common among adults aged 50–59, while children and adolescents (5–19 years) also show increasing trends of excess weight, an alarming age-related escalation.
Moreover, urban and wealthier populations bear a heavier burden of obesity, high blood sugar, and hypertension, while rural and low-income households remain more vulnerable to anemia, stunting, and iodine deficiency. These disparities mirror regional studies across Asia and reflect the unequal access to healthy, affordable food in the Philippines.
Sex-based differences also persist. Women of reproductive age continue to face higher rates of anemia and micronutrient deficiencies, threatening maternal and child health. Meanwhile, men in midlife, particularly those over 50, show higher prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, consistent with patterns observed in both local medical surveys and global NCD research.
Why the Double Burden Persists
This paradox of obesity coexisting with nutrient deficiencies is part of the “double burden of malnutrition.” According to a 2025 global review, urbanization and economic pressures are pushing populations toward processed, calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foods that are cheap and widely available, while nutritious items like fruits, vegetables, and fortified staples remain costly.
Moreover, a World Bank report on dietary quality emphasized that low-income households often spend a large share of income on food, yet still rely on high-starch, low-nutrient staples, a reality that perpetuates deficiencies even when calorie needs are me.
In the Philippines, this is reflected in rising obesity rates alongside persistent anemia, vitamin A deficiency, and stunting in children. On the other hand, wealthier Filipinos face the opposite side of the burden: higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
Policies in Place, but Gaps Remain
The Philippine government has introduced a range of measures to curb unhealthy diets, but experts stress that implementation and enforcement remain uneven.
- Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax. First imposed in 2018 under the TRAIN law, the tax charged ₱6 per liter on drinks with caloric or non-caloric sweeteners and ₱12 per liter on beverages using high-fructose corn syrup. More recently, a modeling study published in The Lancet Public Health (August 2025) projected that expanding a 20% excise tax to packaged foods high in sugar and salt could prevent nearly 3,000 premature deaths, avert 5,000 strokes, 14,000 heart attacks, and 22,000 new type 2 diabetes cases over two decades. The same study, released by Johns Hopkins Public Health, estimated healthcare savings of $46 million and additional government revenue of $13 billion USD.
- Trans-fat ban. On June 18, 2021, the Department of Health issued Administrative Order No. 2021-0039, which eliminated industrially produced trans fats from food production and sales in line with WHO recommendations. The policy took effect on July 6, 2021, with strong backing from civil society groups such as the Global Health Advocacy Incubator and ImagineLaw, which lobbied for its passage.
- National nutrition planning. The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023–2028 provides a multi-sectoral strategy to address undernutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies. Developed with technical inputs from WHO, the plan emphasizes fortification, supplementation, and obesity prevention measures that complement ongoing health initiatives.
- Economic rationale. Johns Hopkins’ Lancet Public Health modeling underscores that fiscal policies targeting unhealthy food can deliver both health and financial benefits at scale. Similarly, a WHO–World Bank brief (2020) concluded that SSB taxes not only improve health outcomes but also generate positive effects on employment, productivity, and government revenue, countering industry arguments of economic harm.
What Can Work Moving Forward
Some public health experts recommend a dual approach. First, stronger policy enforcement is needed, like adjusting SSB taxes, ensuring compliance with the trans-fat ban, and expanding fortification and salt-reduction programs.
Second, life-stage nutrition interventions must be scaled up, including iron-folic acid supplements for women and vitamin A supplementation for children.
Furthermore, community-level screening for blood pressure and blood sugar should become routine, especially for adults over 40. And finally, creating healthier food environments, through front-of-pack labeling, stricter marketing rules, and regulating school canteens, remains key to shifting consumer behavior.
Why 2025 is a tipping point
The Philippines stands at a crossroads. The rising tide of lifestyle-related illnesses, set against the stubborn shadow of undernutrition, highlights how deeply food, health, and inequality are intertwined. It is also a reminder that statistics alone cannot capture the human toll, such as families disrupted, opportunities lost, and futures diminished when health is compromised.
Nevertheless, policies already in place show that change is possible. However, their true test lies in how effectively they are implemented and embraced at the community level. In the end, the message from health leaders is clear: survival is no longer enough. And in order to move forward, the Philippines must aim for a vision where living longer also means living healthier, stronger, and with greater dignity.
DISCLAIMER
This article provides general information and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized recommendations. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
