B E S T in Bataan launched

CAPITOL GROUNDS, Bataan – In preparation for the annual Nutrition Month Celebration in July, the Provincial Health Office (PHO), this morning launched Be fit, Eat balanced diet, Stop smoking, and Tame alcohol (BEST) in Bataan-the 100 days Weight Loss Challenge.

This is a healthy lifestyle campaign making one’s health and well-being a priority which also adheres to this year’s theme “Timbang iwasto sa tamang nutrisyon at ehersisyo”. Focused on overweight and obesity among the general public, it also aims to encourage Filipinos to take a positive decision towards consumption of healthy diets and be physically active to prevent noncommunicable diseases as a result of being overweight and obese.

According to Dr. Rosanna Buccahan, PHO Chief, studies reveal that more and more Filipinos, especially adults are becoming fat. Among adults, 20 years old and above the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased from 16.6% in 1993 to 31.1% in 2013. Further, women tend to be fatter than men with the prevalence of 34.4% for females and 27.5% for males.

Open to all capitol employees with a body mass index (BMI) of 28 and above, registration starts today March 16 until March 30. Registration forms are available at PHO and the Provincial Human Resource Management Office. Participants are encouraged to embrace the four key health habits: Physical activity, proper nutrition, prevention or cessation of smoking and alcohol consumption. Smokers who are willing to quit and join the challenge will be referred to the PHO Smoking Cessation clinic for counseling.

Challenge runs from April 13 to July 21; weighing in will be on March 30 at the PHO. Winners who will receive a plaque and P 10,000.00 for the 1st prize; P 7,000.00 for the 2nd prize and P 5,000.00 for the 3rd will be selected based on the total percentage of weight loss and will be announced on July 27 during the Provincial Nutrition Month Celebration.

For further details, please call: 047-237-32-70; 047-237-27-11; 047-237-32-40 or visit the Provincial Health Office.