NATIONAL HEALTHY LIFESTYLE PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION
Situationer:
The rapid rise of non-communicable diseases represents one of the major health challenges to global development in the coming
century. This growing challenge threatens economic and social development as well as the lives and health of millions of people.
In 1998 alone, non-communicable diseases are estimated to have contributed to almost 60% of deaths in the world and 43% of
the global burden of disease. Based on current trends, by the year 2020 these diseases are expected to account for 73% of
deaths and 60% of the disease burden.
Low and middle income countries suffer the greatest impact of non-communicable diseases. The rapid increase in these diseases
is sometimes seen disproportionately in poor and disadvantaged population and is contributing to widening health gaps between
and within countries. For example, in 1998, of the total number of deaths attributable to non-communicable diseases, 77%
occurred in developing countries, and the disease burden they represent, 85% was borne by low and middle income countries.
Philippine Data
In the Philippines, increasing life expectancy, urbanization and lifestyle changes have brought about a considerable change on the
health status of the country. Globalization and social change has influenced the spread of non-communicable or
lifestyle/degenerative diseases by increasing exposure to risk. As the country's per capita income increases, the social and
economic conditions necessary for the widespread adoption of risky behaviors gradually emerge. This in turn has brought a
considerable challenge to the country's health policy and health system to address emerging lifestyle/degenerative diseases
amidst the unfinished agenda of communicable health.
Recent statistics have sounded out the alarm. The life expectancy of Filipinos in 1999 has gone up to 69 years. The process of
aging brings out myriad health problems which are degenerative by nature. Mortality statistics in 1997 shows that 7 out of 10
leading causes of deaths in the country are diseases which are lifestyle related (diseases of the heart and the vascular system,
cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, accidents, diabetes, kidney problems). Morbidity statistics show that diseases of
the heart ranks 6th as the leading cause of illness in the country.
In a study conducted by FNRI in 1998, it was found out that 2 in every 10 Filipino adults, 20 years and over, or 21% of the
population, are hypertensives and is increasing in prevalence after age 40 years. Four percent (4%) of the population have blood
glucose levels of 125 mg/dl and above, and an increasing prevalence of hyperglycemia after the age 40 years. The proportion of
adults with total cholesterol 240 mg/dl and above is 4% with prevalence of hypercolesterolemia peaking at age 40 years. Adults
with total triglyceride levels
In a recent study by Tiglao et al, (2000) 32.2% are ever smokers or having smoked at one point in their lives. Current smokers
are 23.5% (73.1% of the ever smokers) 78.5% are males while 21.4% are females. Among the current smokers 13.6% began
smoking at the age of 6-14 years old; 51.4% began at the age of 15-19 years old; 19.6% 20-24 years; 6.8% 25-29 and 8.5%
30-70 years old. A study done by NDHS in 1998 revealed that 60% of the households nationwide have at least one smoker.
In the same study by Tiglao et al, 38.9% of the sample population are alcohol drinkers, with recorded age of initiation at 6 - 71
years old. Half of the drinkers (50.3%) started drinking at ages 15-19, the teenage years; while 8.5% started at less than 14
years. More than half (58.1%) are light drinkers, meaning they usually take less than four drinks; about 37% are moderate
drinkers (4-12 drinks) while a small proportion (5.9%) are heavy drinkers (>12 drinks). Number of drinks is equivalent to 1 glass
of wine, 1 shot of liquor, or 1 cocktail.
Again, in the same study, 79.1% of the respondents claim that they have some form of exercise or engage in some physical
activities. More than half (54.4%) engages in low to moderate physical activities - walking, jogging, bending, stretching, yoga,
exercise for pregnant women, weaving, sewing, gardening. Thirty one percent (31.1%) engages in sustained physical activity household chores, peddling, farming, carpentry, fishing, serving. Only 14.6% participates in vigorous forms of physical activities brisk walking, push up, weightlifting, PE class, taebo, sports. Most popular form of physical activity is walking followed by
household chores.
Looking at the weekly consumption of fruits and vegetables, Tiglao et al's study revealed that a big majority (81.3%) of the
respondents claim to eat fruits and vegetables four or more times a week; 10.7% thrice a week; 3.9% twice a week; 3.4% once
a week; while 0.7% admitted they don't eat fruits and vegetables.
Rationale of the Program
Four of the most prominent non-communicable diseases are linked by common preventable risk factors related to lifestyle. These
are cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes. The risk factors involved are tobacco use,

unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. Action to prevent these diseases should therefore focus on controlling s in an integrated
manner. Intervention at the level of family and community is essential for prevention because the causal risk factors are deeply
entrenched in the social and cultural framework of the society. Addressing the major risk factors should be given the highest
priority in the global strategy for the prevention and control of lifestyle related diseases.
The mandate of the Department of Health is to promote and protect health lifestyles. For common understanding, healthy lifestyle
has been operationally defined as a way of life that promotes and protects health and well being. This would include practices that
promotes health such as healthy diet and nutrition, regular and adequate physical activity and leisure, avoidance of substances
that can be abused such as tobacco, alcohol and other addicting substances, adequate stress management and relaxation; and
practices that offer protection from health risks such as safe sex and responsible parenthood.
Our goal is to reduce the toll of morbidity, disability and premature deaths due to lifestyle related diseases. One of the
components of the major strategies employed will be health promotion, across the life course and prevention of the emergence of
the risk factors in the first place. This is where a serious campaign on healthy lifestyle would be most relevant. Thus the
development and installation of the National Healthy Lifestyle Program in the Department of Health
GOAL
Reduce prevalence of lifestyle diseases particularly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary
diseases.
OBJECTIVES
General
Reduce prevalence of major risk factors specifically smoking, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet and nutrition.
Specific
1.

2.

Develop the program components of the National Healthy Lifestyle Program

a.

Tobacco Control Program

b.

Lifestyle Physical Activity Program

c.

Healthy Diet and Weight Control Program

d.

Stress Management Program

e.

Control of Alcohol Use Program

Launch a Comprehensive Healthy Lifestyle Advocacy and Health Promotion Campaign:

Key Messages:
a.

Exercise regularly

b.

Eat a healthy diet everyday

c.

Watch your weight / Weight control

d.

Don't smoke

e.

Manage stress

f.

Have a regular health check-up

3.

Institutionalize the promotion of healthy lifestyle in local government units.

4.

Quality assurance through Sentrong Sigla.

5.

Support research on behavior change and best practice on the promotion of healthy lifestyle.

STRATEGIES
1.

2.

3.

4.

PROGRAM, POLICY AND STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT

a.

Creation of Task Forces for each program component.

b.

Pilot implementation of the Integrated Community Based Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control
Project (WHO Demonstration Project - Guimaras and Pateros).

c.

Inclusion of healthy lifestyle promotion in the Sentrong Sigla standards.

d.

Issuance of an administrative order to mandate the mandatory inclusion of nutrition facts/information on

prepackaged food labels.

e.

Issuance of guidelines in the promotion of healthy lifestyle.

f.

Formulation of an integrated and comprehensive national policy on issues relating to healthy lifestyle (nutrition,
environmental/urban planning, transportation, etc.).

INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND CAPABILITY BUILDING

a.

Implementation of the National Healthy Lifestyle Program nationwide through local government units.

b.

Training health workers on the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

c.

Technical assistance in the development of local policies/resolutions relative to healthy lifestyles.

d.

Establishment of Wellness Centers in health facilities across the country.

ADVOCACY AND HEALTH PROMOTION

a.

Development and Launching of a Comprehensive Health Lifestyle Advocacy and Health Promotion Campaign.

b.

Organization of a Healthy Lifestyle Coalition among various stakeholders.

c.

Development/production/distribution of advocacy/IEC materials.

d.

Observance of Healthy Lifestyle as a common theme during conventions, meetings, congresses of various
groups being represented in the coalition during the year 2003 and beyond.

e.

Highlighting periodically a year round thematic advocacy/IEC campaigns on specific healthy lifestyle messages.

January - Regular health check up

February - Exercise regularly

May/June - Don't smoke

July - Eat a healthy diet

October - manage stress

December - Watch your weight / Weight control

RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT

a.
5.

Behavior change and best practice on healthy lifestyle promotion.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

TOTAL NATIONAL BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS:

STRATEGY

BUDGET/SOURCE

Program/policy/standards development

P1,350,000/GOP

Institutionalization and Capability Building

P1,000,000 / GOP
P15,000,000 (CHDs-GOP)

Advocacy and Health Promotion

P6,500,000 / To be sourced out

P3,550,000 / GOP

Research Development

P2,500,000 / GOP

Monitoring and Evaluation

Included with the DOH Integrated monitoring and

evaluation scheme

TOTAL

P29,850,000

AEROTHENICS
AEROTHENICS - a 20 minute aerobic routine complete with warm up and cool down of 3 mins. each and exercise proper of 14
mins. executed with the music at a tempo of 128 beats per minute.
(Note: the accompanying video is not for public dissemination. It should only be used by prospective leaders in preparation for the
Feb. 16 event, for them to learn the exercise routine)
1. Walk in place
32 cts.
2. Run in place
32 cts.
3. Reach and stretch arms across diagonally upward 8 cts.
across the body
8 cts.
down towards the feet
8 cts.
forward
4. Neck rotation > (swd) R, L, upwrd, downward 2X (Swd R, front, swd L, front, Up, front, down, front)
5. Arms swd . reaches to the side
16 cts.
6. Fingertips on shoulders, shoulders circling fwd 4X and bwd 4X
16 cts.
7. Trunk bend swd R, fwd, swd L, bend knees, double arm reach upwd 4 cts. each
8. Side lunges
8 cts.
9. Half squats, arms reaching up
8 cts.
10. Heels raising
4X
11. Ankle and calf stretch
5 cts. Ankle,
8 cts.
Calf, R & L
12. Quadriceps stretch > R and L
8 cts. each
13. Ankle rotation > R and L 4 cts. Reverse (clockwise, counterclockwise)
14. Run in place
2X
16 cts.
Straddle run in place
2X
16 cts.
15. Walk fwd and bwd, arms pushing fwd
8 cts. or 4X alternate
Walk swd R and L, arms pushing swd
Walk fwd and bwd, arms pushing upwd
Walk swd R and L, arms pushing downwd
16. Walk fwd and back, elbows flex and touching
8 cts. Or 4X alternate R and L
Walk swd R and L, lifting bent or flexed forearms
Walk fwd and back, triceps press
Walk swd R and L, hands on shoulders, biceps curls swd
Walk fwd and bwd, fling hands on chest
Walk swd R and L, biceps curls down
17. Walk fwd and bwd with alternating knee raise
4X Alt
Walk swd R and L with alternating side lunges
4X Alt
Walk fwd and bwd with alternating knee flex
4X Alt
Walk swd R and L with alternating step and hop
4X Alt
Walk fwd and bwd with alternating knee raise 3X 4X Alt

Upwd
Dwnwd
Swd
Fwd
Bwd
R
L

= upward
= downward
= sideward
= forward
= backward
= right
= left

Walk swd R and L with alternating side lunges 3X 4X Alt

Walk fwd and bwd with alternating knee flex 3X
4X Alt
Walk swd R and L with alternating hop alt 3X
18. Grapevine swd R and L heel touch swd 4 alternate
Grapevine fwd and bwd with heel touch fwd
Grapevine swd R and L with squat jump and clap
L knee raise 3X, walk swd and reverse
4X alternate R and L
L side leg raise 3X, walk swd and reverse
L knee flex 3X, walk swd and reverse
Walk fwd heel drop 3X reverse moving bwd
19. Walk swd and R mambo fwd, reverse other side
4X alternate R and L / 8cts. each
Walk swd and run in place with arm reaches upwd 4X alternate R and L / 8cts. each
Walk fwd and shoulder shake fwd
2X swd with trunk slightly fwd
Walk swd and jumping swd R and L
20. Step hop clap
Hip swing
Step hop clap
Hip swing

4X
8 counts
4X
8 counts

All 2X

21. Walk fwd, knee raise with elbow knee touch

2X
Walk bwd, knee raise with elbow knee touch
2X
Step and elbow knee touch place
8 cts
Walk fwd, kick leg across body
2X
Walk bwd, kick leg across body
2X
Kick leg across body in place alternately
8X
Walk fwd, knee raise and clap under raised knee
2X
Walk bwd, knee raise and clap under raised knee
2X
Step, knee raise and clap under raised knee alternately in place
Run fwd, then hip swing in place
4 cts. 2 sets
Run bwd, then hip swing in place
4 cts. 2 sets
22. Repeat from #15, #16 only up to fling hands on chest then
Walk swd fling arms bwd dwnwd
Walk fwd swing arms across body
Walk swd fling arms bwd
23. Run in place
Straddle run with hip sway

4 cts.
4 cts .

4 sets
4 sets

24. Walk fwd then knee raise

Walk swd then side leg lunge
Walk fwd then knee flex
Walk swd then hop with knee raise
Walk fwd then alternating 3X knee raise
Walk swd then alternating 3X leg swd lunge
Walk fwd then alternating 3X knee flex
Walk swd then alternating 3X step and hop
Walk fwd then heel drop 3X
2 sets
Walk bwd then heel drop 3X
2 sets
Grapevine swd with squat, hop and clap
Reverse other side 4 cts. Alternate R & L
25. 3 knee repeater then walk swd and reverse
3 leg repeater swd, walk swd and reverse
3 knee flex repeater, walk swd and reverse

4 alternate

26. a) Step, op and clap moving fwd 4X

Hip sway in place
8 cts.
All 4 alternately
b) Reverse a)
27. Walk 4X swd and 1 mambo in place
Walk 4X swd and run in place 4 cts.
Reverse
Walk fwd 4X and shoulder sake 4 cts.
Reverse

4 alternately R and L

Walk swd 4X and jump swd

Reverse

4 cts.

28. Run in place

8 cts.
2 sets
Straddle run in place
8 cts.
2 sets
Alternate knee raise fwd and walk in place
Alternate leg kick fwd and walk in place
Stretch and reach walk fwd
Step and hop fwd and bwd
Run 4X and straddle run 4X
4 sets

4X - 8 cts. each
4X - 8 cts. each

29. Repeat #3
30. Cool down > reverse order from 13 going back to 4
31. Walk in place 16-32 cts.
(Consultants: The College of Human Kinetics, University of the Philippines, Diliman)