THE SILENT SUGAR PROBLEM AFFECTING FILIPINO CHILDREN'S HEALTH

DID you know that added sugar has quietly become part of many Filipino children's daily diets?

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Many parents don't even realize it.

A 2024 study by UNICEF Philippines and the Consortium for Improving Complementary Foods in Southeast Asia (COMMIT) revealed that over a third of foods marketed to young children in the country contain added sugars or sweeteners, making them a hidden yet major source of excess sugars in kids' diets. The number of overweight Filipino children has also tripled since 2003, which is considered high by global standards.

The Medical City Ortigas pediatrician, Dr. Marthony Basco, commonly known as Dr. Ato Basco, warns that this growing trend is not just about weight. "A fat child is not a healthy child," he says, pointing to long-term health risks that can begin early in life when excess sugar becomes routine.