Overweight, obese children on the

rise

Saturday, 26 October 2013 00:00
Overnutrition is best seen in a person who is overweight or obese, having abnormal or excessive fat accumulation
that presents multiple risks to health.
Childhood obesity, for instances, is associated with a higher chance of premature death and disability in adulthood.
In addition, obese children experience breathing difficulties, increased risk of fractures, hypertension, and early
markers of cardiovascular diseases. Likewise, these children can become victims of practical jokes which may lead
to psychological problems later in life.
Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular
diseases and cancer.
Related to this, the updating survey on the nutritional status of Filipino children in 2011 by the Food and Nutrition
Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) revealed that 4 in 100 (or 4.3
percent) of preschoolers 0-5 years old are overweight.
Regions with the highest prevalence of overweight preschoolers are Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon
(CALABARZON), National Capital Region (NCR) and Ilocos regions, ranging from 5.9 percent to 6.3 percent, which
is higher than the national prevalence of 4.3 percent.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the preschoolers increased by 1 percentage point from 3.3
percent to 4.3 percent in 2011.
The survey results further revealed that 8 in 100 (or 7.5%) of school children 6-10 years old are overweight.
Overweight prevalence is highest in Central Luzon, CALABARZON and NCR regions, ranging from 11.1 percent to
12.6 percent, which is higher than the national prevalence of 7.5 percent. Further, prevalence increased by 0.9
percentage points, from 6.6 percent in 2008 to 7.5 percent in 2011.
Overweight and obesity are basically due to an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories
expended.
Nowadays, there has been an increase in intake of high-energy foods that are high in fat, salt and sugars but low in
vitamins and minerals.
In contrast, there was a decrease in physical activity due to increasing sedentary lifestyle, such as watching
television and playing computer games among children.
Changes in dietary and physical patterns are often the result of environmental and societal changes associated with
development and very lax enforcement of supportive policies in the health and education sectors.
The Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos developed by a team of experts led by the FNRI-DOST recommends eating a
variety of foods every day, since no single food can provide all the nutrients the body needs.
Consumption of fruits and vegetables should be increased, while limiting intake of sugary and fatty foods is also
recommended.
Overweight and obesity among children are preventable.
A supportive environment at home and in school is necessary in shaping childrens food choices, adapting a
healthier lifestyle like engaging in regular physical activity to help prevent obesity. (IAAgdeppa\ DOST IV-A S&T
Media Service)

http://region4a.dost.gov.ph/index.php/press-release/406-overweight-obese-children-on-the-rise


My Child Matters: Improving survival rates for children with cancer in low-resource countries
Every year, more than 175,000 children are confronted with cancer and at least 90,000 of them will die
from the disease. The five-year survival rate for children diagnosed with cancer in developed countries is
80% ; however this rate falls to an average of 20% in low-resource countries and even to 10% in the
worlds poorest countries.
The My Child Matters program was conceived by the Sanofi Espoir Foundation and deployed in
partnership with the UICC. It fuses financial support, the expertise of cancer specialists from the world
over and effective networking to improve all aspect of the healthcare chain: information and awareness
campaigns for authorities and the public; health personnel training; early diagnosis; access to care,
including the underdeveloped fields of pain management and palliative care; and psychological support
for the children with cancer, their families and their care providers.
Seven years of action provide durable results and progress
More than 40 projects in 26 countries have received support. My Child Matters has had a significant
impact for several major issues, summarizes Cary Adams, Chief Executive Officer of the Union for
International Cancer Control (UICC). First, it has significantly raised awareness for pediatric cancers in
the concerned countries and regions, thus leading to the development of local capacities for early
diagnosis and treatment. Second, it contributes to reduce the gap in survival rates between high and low
resource countries has been reduced. And finally, the need to focus on childhood cancers has been
defended at the highest levels, in front of the World Health Organization and the United Nations
General Meeting.
A new, three-year action plan has been decided upon and focused on three priorities:
Evaluation and strengthened accompaniment for 15 current projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Support for interregional networks.
Deployment of petitioning actions in partnership with the UICC to insure that childhood cancers become
a public health priority in the future.

Asia:
Pakistan: Developing a training program in paediatric oncology to improve the diagnosis and treatment
of cancer in children in Sindh and Baluchistan. Pakistan Foundation for Cancer in Children, Karachi.
Creating a palliative care unit in a department of oncology. Department of Oncology and Paediatrics,
Children's Hospital and Institute of Paediatric Health, Lahore.
Philippines: improving access to treatment and care for children with retinoblastoma and leukaemia.
Paediatric Medical Centre of the Philippines, Quezon.
Thailand: Establishing a national care network to improve the treatment of brain tumours in children.
Thai Paediatricians Group, Bangkok. Improving the quality of life and palliative care for children with
cancer. 'Wishing Well' Foundation, Bangkok. Improving the overall care of children with cancer. Faculty
of Medicine, University of Prince Songka, Hat Yai.

http://fondation-sanofi-espoir.com/en/ngo_child-matters.php




















April is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Published on Friday, 13 April 2012 10:31
Childhood cancer, like any other cancer, undergoes the typical disease process cells grow
uncontrollably developing into abnormal sizes and shapes, destroying neighboring cells and
eventually spreading to other organs and tissues.
As cancer cells multiply, they consume greater amount of the bodys nutrition. Cancer depletes
childs strength, damages organs and bones, and abates bodys immune system.
According to the report of the Philippine Childrens Medical Center (PCMC), the national and
referral center for childhood cancer, an average of 3,500 Filipino children suffers from cancer
each year but only 2,500 of them has been diagnosed.
Most of these Filipino children are afflicted with retinoblastoma (cancer of the eye), acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells) and lymphoma (cancer of the lymph
nodes).
Though the Cancer Warriors Foundation, Inc. estimates that at least 75 percent of childhood
cancer is curable, survival rates in the Philippines is alarmingly low. Only 10 percent of
diagnosed Filipino children survived.
Early detection of the disease remains the greatest challenge because Filipino families lack
fundamental information on its symptoms. Today, the Department of Health supports PCMC
in its My Child Matters Program which aims to increase public awareness, educate and train
health personnel for the early diagnosis of the disease and improve access to treatment for the
Filipino children, especially the poor.
Senate Health and Demography Committee Chair Senator Pia S. Cayetano encouraged
everyone to help in raising awareness on the need for early detection of childhood cancer and
improving access of disadvantaged Filipino families to cancer treatment.
I called on the government and the private sector to join hands in supporting the plight of
children with cancer and raising public awareness about kids stricken with the dreaded
disease, said. Sen. Cayetano.
http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/2012-05-23-07-46-36/2012-05-24-00-01-11/5002-april-is-
childhood-cancer-awareness-month


Pediatric Cancer Ward

HISTORY:
In late 1997 we began visiting patients admitted to the Cancer Institute pediatric ward, as well as the outpatients who
frequent the hospital for medication and checkups. Our visits included prayer for the children, as well as assisting
them with physical needs, and encouragement and grief counseling for the parents.
Our program expanded to include weekly activities such as arts and crafts, story time, games, and more for the
children.
Over time we added monthly Bible studies for the parents of the cancer patients. The Bible studies are conducted
while Family members, friends, and volunteers occupy the children with activities, such as coloring, puppets, story
time, arts and crafts projects, etc.
Thanks to kind sponsors and friends, we were able to begin supplying lunch after the Bible studies and activities for
the children. The outpatients who attend our Bible study arrive at the hospital very early in the morning in order to
queue up for their checkup or chemotherapy treatment. If they don't arrive early. they risk not get attended to that day
and then having to return the following week for an appointment. Because of this, by the time lunch is served they are
very hungry and grateful for the provided lunch.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
In recent years we have added a sponsorship program, wherein companies or individuals may "adopt" a child of thei r
choice and sponsor the medication and treatment of that child for a year, or however long they choose. This program
has been very beneficial, resulting in some children no longer needing treatment and becoming cancer survivors!
Our current projects for pediatric cancer patients include:
1. Conducting weekly activities for the children consisting of arts and crafts projects, puppet shows, games,
special snacks, meals, etc.
2. Conducting weekly Bible studies and grief counseling for the parents of the cancer victims.
3. Distributing goods, such as milk, food, clothing, shoes, books, toys, etc., which we have solicited from
concerned companies and individuals.
4. Soliciting financial aid for the medical needs of the children. This includes our adopt-a-child program where a
company or individual sponsors the treatment of a child of their choice for as long as they are able, i.e., a
year or more.
5. Sponsoring special meals for holidays and other occasions.
6. Bringing hope, comfort, and love to the children and their families.
7. Arranging for burials and finding sponsorship for the funerals (as many of the families are so poor that they
cannot afford to properly bury their deceased child).
8. Organizing and conducting programs and performances for special events, such as holidays, birthdays,
Christmas, etc. We also attend events organized by the hospital, including National Cancer Consciousness
week activities, "Relay for Life" with other cancer institutes/hospitals in the country, etc.
9. Soliciting birthday and Christmas gifts for each of the children. The children make a list of what they would
like for their birthdays or Christmas, and with the help of our friends and sponsors we supply the items
requested.
IN CONCLUSION:
Throughout the 10 years that we have been involved in this project, countless prayers have been prayed and tears
shed for children whose bodies were fast failing. But despite the inexplicable pain and hardship these young ones
have had to endure, at an age when most children are not even aware that such suffering exists, these young
children and their parents have remained courageous and brave.
Regardless of their own difficulties, they reach out to support other children in similar or worse situations than their
own. Parents extend comfort to other parents who are grieving over a lost child. They share what meager supplies
they have with other parents who are struggling to make ends meet. When they have a surplus in funds, medicine, or
other necessities, their first response is to give it to some other child in need. Their courage never ceases to astound
us, and their cheerfulness humbles us.
If you have been touched, while reading about these precious children, we would like to extend the opportunity for
you to participate with us in the easing of these children's suffering. If you would like to send a donation or assist in
other ways, please contact us at:thefamily@pldt.dsl.net. We look forward to hearing from you.
In the meantime, we would like to solicit your prayers for each of these special children and their parents. We believe
that no matter what the obstacle or seeming impossibility, sincere prayer can help any situation. May God bless you
and care for you and your loved ones.
Footnote: In appreciation of the Family's endeavors on behalf of the pediatric cancer patients, the Philippine General
Hospital has awarded the Family International and its volunteers numerous plaques of appreciation and recognition
for a number of consecutive years.

http://www.thefamilyinternational.org/en/work/asia-pacific/philippines/articles/2008/28/



Step Juan: Stepping up for children with cancer
Blogpost by Chuck Baclagon - February 24, 2010 at 13:56

Greenpeace volunteer Tomas Leonor told us about Step Juan, I thought it was a brilliant idea.Step
Juan, which was co-organized with the Cancer Warriors Foundation, was meant to raise awareness
and funds for children with cancer by walking the island of Luzon from North to South.
I joined Step Juans Metro Manila leg because environment and children are my favorite advocacies.
Step Juan gave me the opportunity to be involved in both in a single event. Besides, I love walking.
It was the first time I ever got involved in the issue of cancer in children. Its not that I care less for
them; I felt that my contribution to this advocacy was to stop some factors that may cause cancer.
That meant stopping industry from spewing all sorts of hazardous chemicals into the environment and
into our food.
The body of evidence of the carcinogenicity of a whole spectrum of chemicals has grown by leaps and
bounds. And we dont even know what kind of chemicals are out there and what each chemical
actually does to our bodies. Unfortunately too, in most cases, it is up to all of us exposed to these
chemicals that have to prove that these industrial chemicals are partly responsible for the health
problems we are experiencing today.
This must change. This is the reason why Greenpeace continues to work to cut down on the chemicals
that are polluting our environment and food. The precautionary principle put simply says, if unsure
what a chemical or activity does to the environment, dont do it.
Step Juan is expected to complete the walk this week. I can tell it has been a success. Id like to
congratulate Tomas for this courageous but humble act for the sake of the children with cancer for a
job well done.

http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/ph/News/greenpeace-philippine-blog/step-juan-stepping-up-for-
children-with-cance/blog/13375/