23/07/2026
๐ฅ๐๐๐ | ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐: ๐ก๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ก๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐; ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐จ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ '๐ช๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฒ-๐ผ๐ณ-๐ฆ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐' ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
TAGUIG CITY โ The National Nutrition Council (NNC) has expressed grave concern over the key findings of the 2025 Updating Survey conducted by the Department of Science and TechnologyโFood and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). The latest data shows that several key nutrition indicators including child stunting, underweight prevalence, and overweight and obesityโworsened between 2023 and 2025, falling short of the annual reduction targets under the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023โ2028.
The survey highlighted a worrying upward trend in the following areas:
1. Undernutrition among children, 0-5 years old
Stunting: Increased from 23.6% in 2023 to 25.3%
Underweight: Increased from 15.1% in 2023 to 16.2%
2. Overweight and Obesity: Steady increases across nearly all age groups but most notably surged among Filipino adults from 39.8% in 2023 to 44.5% .
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Among the key findings presented during the National Nutrition Summit held on 17 June 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City, was the alarming increase in stunting among children under five. Stunting indicates chronic malnutrition and inflicts irreversible damage on a child's cognitive and physical development if left unaddressed within the first 1,000 days of life.
Beyond the human toll, chronic malnutrition carries a massive countryโs economic burden. At the national level, stunting costs the Philippines an estimated 3% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or approximately โฑ473 billion annually, due to reduced workforce productivity and escalating healthcare costs. This increase in stunting prevalence among children under five (5) reflect persistent gaps in maternal and child nutrition, food access, and health services.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Filipinos increased significantly from 39.8% in 2023 to 44.5% in 2025, meaning that nearly one in every two Filipino adults. Simultaneously, the surge in adult obesity points to rapidly shifting dietary patterns, low physical activity, poor infant and young child feeding practices, and sedentary behaviors in an increasingly obesogenic environment. Classified as a disease by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), obesity is a major risk factor for a range of noncommunicable diseases or NCDs, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breathing problems, musculoskeletal discomfort, fatty liver disease, and cancers.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐: ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ญ,๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ
Amid the challenging data, the survey also showed gains in key indicators under the First 1,000 Days of Life. Notable improvements were seen in the prevalence of nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women, which decreased from 19.1% (2023) to 16.1% (2025) and stunting rates among infants aged 0โ23 (from 22.5% to 21.1%). More children met the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) and Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD) scores compared to previous years. These positive developments underscore the importance of sustaining and scaling up current investments and interventions to accelerate improvements in the First 1,000 Days of Life.
๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ผ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ-๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ด
As the country reaches the mid-term implementation of the PPAN 2023โ2028, the NNC reaffirms its commitment to lead, coordinate, and accelerate the national nutrition strategy. Moving forward, the NNC commits to fast-track vital laws and policies such as the landmark Republic Act No. 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act of 2018, National Policy in Addressing Obesity and Other Metabolic Disorders, the Philippine Nutrient Profile Model, among others, while mobilizing the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement networks, other relevant partners, and regional nutrition committees.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ก๐ ๐ณ๐๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐:
1. National government agencies and policymakers: Mobilize nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, scale up school-based nutrition programs, and actively create healthier food environments to combat obesity.
2. Local Chief Executives and LGUs: Prioritize and fund nutrition interventions, focusing on the First 1,000 Days of Life, in local development and investment plans. LGUs are strongly encouraged to fully fund and establish dedicated Local Nutrition Offices with a complete staff complement.
3. Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations, and Private Sector: Sustain and strengthen partnerships (with no conflict of interest) and support to the national and local government in implementing nutrition and related policies, programs, and nutrition action plans.
4. Families and Communities: Adopt healthier dietary practices, champion exclusive breastfeeding, practice proper complementary feeding, and promote active lifestyles for all age groups.
โThe 2025 Updating Survey is more than a set of statistics, it is a call to action.โ said OIC Executive Director IV Atty. Rosalina U. Bascao. โAs we reach the mid-term implementation of PPAN 2023-2028, let us transform these findings into stronger policies, greater investments, and collective action. Together, we can build a healthier, more resilient, and more food-secure Philippines where Nutrisyong Sapat, Para sa Lahat becomes a reality.โ
For media inquiries, contact:
EMMANUEL JAY D. DIMAL, EdD, MBA
Nutrition Officer V and Chief, Nutrition Information and Education Division
National Nutrition Council
8843-01-42 | [email protected]
About NNC
The National Nutrition Council is the highest policymaking and coordinating body on nutrition mandated by Presidential Decree No. 491 in June 1974. As the executive arm of the Council, the NNC Secretariat, led by an Executive Director, ensures realignment of its operations to focus on client-based operations and prioritize addressing hunger and malnutrition.
๐ฅ๐๐๐ | ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐: ๐ก๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ก๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐; ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐จ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ '๐ช๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฒ-๐ผ๐ณ-๐ฆ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐' ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
TAGUIG CITY โ The National Nutrition Council (NNC) has expressed grave concern over the key findings of the 2025 Updating Survey conducted by the Department of Science and TechnologyโFood and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). The latest data shows that several key nutrition indicators including child stunting, underweight prevalence, and overweight and obesityโworsened between 2023 and 2025, falling short of the annual reduction targets under the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023โ2028.
The survey highlighted a worrying upward trend in the following areas:
1. Undernutrition among children, 0-5 years old
Stunting: Increased from 23.6% in 2023 to 25.3%
Underweight: Increased from 15.1% in 2023 to 16.2%
2. Overweight and Obesity: Steady increases across nearly all age groups but most notably surged among Filipino adults from 39.8% in 2023 to 44.5% .
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Among the key findings presented during the National Nutrition Summit held on 17 June 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel in Pasay City, was the alarming increase in stunting among children under five. Stunting indicates chronic malnutrition and inflicts irreversible damage on a child's cognitive and physical development if left unaddressed within the first 1,000 days of life.
Beyond the human toll, chronic malnutrition carries a massive countryโs economic burden. At the national level, stunting costs the Philippines an estimated 3% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or approximately โฑ473 billion annually, due to reduced workforce productivity and escalating healthcare costs. This increase in stunting prevalence among children under five (5) reflect persistent gaps in maternal and child nutrition, food access, and health services.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Filipinos increased significantly from 39.8% in 2023 to 44.5% in 2025, meaning that nearly one in every two Filipino adults. Simultaneously, the surge in adult obesity points to rapidly shifting dietary patterns, low physical activity, poor infant and young child feeding practices, and sedentary behaviors in an increasingly obesogenic environment. Classified as a disease by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), obesity is a major risk factor for a range of noncommunicable diseases or NCDs, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breathing problems, musculoskeletal discomfort, fatty liver disease, and cancers.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐: ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ญ,๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ
Amid the challenging data, the survey also showed gains in key indicators under the First 1,000 Days of Life. Notable improvements were seen in the prevalence of nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women, which decreased from 19.1% (2023) to 16.1% (2025) and stunting rates among infants aged 0โ23 (from 22.5% to 21.1%). More children met the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) and Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD) scores compared to previous years. These positive developments underscore the importance of sustaining and scaling up current investments and interventions to accelerate improvements in the First 1,000 Days of Life.
๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ผ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ-๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ด
As the country reaches the mid-term implementation of the PPAN 2023โ2028, the NNC reaffirms its commitment to lead, coordinate, and accelerate the national nutrition strategy. Moving forward, the NNC commits to fast-track vital laws and policies such as the landmark Republic Act No. 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act of 2018, National Policy in Addressing Obesity and Other Metabolic Disorders, the Philippine Nutrient Profile Model, among others, while mobilizing the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement networks, other relevant partners, and regional nutrition committees.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ก๐ ๐ณ๐๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐:
1. National government agencies and policymakers: Mobilize nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, scale up school-based nutrition programs, and actively create healthier food environments to combat obesity.
2. Local Chief Executives and LGUs: Prioritize and fund nutrition interventions, focusing on the First 1,000 Days of Life, in local development and investment plans. LGUs are strongly encouraged to fully fund and establish dedicated Local Nutrition Offices with a complete staff complement.
3. Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations, and Private Sector: Sustain and strengthen partnerships (with no conflict of interest) and support to the national and local government in implementing nutrition and related policies, programs, and nutrition action plans.
4. Families and Communities: Adopt healthier dietary practices, champion exclusive breastfeeding, practice proper complementary feeding, and promote active lifestyles for all age groups.
โThe 2025 Updating Survey is more than a set of statistics, it is a call to action.โ said OIC Executive Director IV Atty. Rosalina U. Bascao. โAs we reach the mid-term implementation of PPAN 2023-2028, let us transform these findings into stronger policies, greater investments, and collective action. Together, we can build a healthier, more resilient, and more food-secure Philippines where Nutrisyong Sapat, Para sa Lahat becomes a reality.โ
# # #
For media inquiries, contact:
EMMANUEL JAY D. DIMAL, EdD, MBA
Nutrition Officer V and Chief, Nutrition Information and Education Division
National Nutrition Council
8843-01-42 | [email protected]
About NNC
The National Nutrition Council is the highest policymaking and coordinating body on nutrition mandated by Presidential Decree No. 491 in June 1974. As the executive arm of the Council, the NNC Secretariat, led by an Executive Director, ensures realignment of its operations to focus on client-based operations and prioritize addressing hunger and malnutrition.
