Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Marketgoers purchase goods at Litex Market in Quezon City on June 8, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file

Article (news)

Raine Musñgi

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175221549065120181009-obesity.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Marketgoers purchase goods at Litex Market in Quezon City on June 8, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines may be sitting on a goldmine of working-age citizens—but a growing weight problem threatens to sink it.</p><p>“What’s the use of having a very young population… if they are being impaired by obesity?” says John Paul Cesar de los Trinos of MetaHealth Insights and co-leader of the EPICOP PH study, which is investigating just how much obesity is costing Filipinos—in pesos and productivity.</p><p>And it starts shockingly early: over 14% of children aged 5–10 are already overweight or obese.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Families pay the price</strong></div><p>“More than 44.4% of health expenses in the Philippines are still paid out-of-pocket,” de los Trinos said, echoing official PSA data.</p><p>That means treatments for obesity-related diseases—like diabetes, kidney issues, and hypertension—can drain family budgets. Medications can run from P1,000 to P3,000/month, while hospitalizations can cost up to P15,000 or more. And that’s not even counting special clothing, mobility aids, or missed work days.</p><p>Per capita health spending in the country rose to P11,083 in 2023—an 8.3% jump from the year before. Nationally, the country spent P1.44 trillion on health, or 5.9% of GDP.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/3/4/60-of-adults-will-be-overweight-or-obese-by-2050-study-0809"><strong>60% of adults will be overweight or obese by 2050: study<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>A young, unproductive workforce?</strong></div><p>The concern isn’t just personal—it’s national.</p><p>Obesity is already affecting workplace productivity through absenteeism, presenteeism, and even early retirement.</p><p>“In the PNP, officers were told to lose weight or face reassignment. Some jobs require physical fitness, period,” de los Trinos said.</p><p>The link between obesity and diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions often shows up just when Filipinos should be entering their prime earning years. That undercuts the country’s so-called demographic dividend—the economic boost expected from its young population.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/18/pnp-chief-torre-tells-overweight-cops-lose-weight-or-lose-job-0928"><strong>PNP chief tells overweight cops: Lose weight or lose job</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:560px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175221562845220170613-pnp-weight-loss-qc-md-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">PNP officers exercise in line with a nationwide weight loss challenge in Camp Crame, Quezon City on June 13, 2017. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file </span></span></span></strong></div><div><strong>Prevention is cheaper than cure</strong></div><p>De los Trinos acknowledged that government agencies like PhilHealth and the DOH are beginning to craft benefit packages for obesity-related complications. But he warned:</p><p>“We don’t want to reach the stage where we’re just paying for complications. Prevention is way cheaper,” .</p><p>He pointed to urban design as part of the solution—calling for more walkable streets, safe bike lanes, and easier access to healthy food in schools and workplaces.</p><p>“In other countries, it’s easy to be active because the environment supports it. We need to build that here,” he added.</p><p>With 38.4% of Filipino adults now overweight or obese (FNRI, 2021), the message is clear: if the Philippines wants to build a productive workforce, it first needs to lighten the load—literally.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/1/15/is-obesity-a-disease-sometimes-but-not-always-experts-decide-1154"><strong>Is obesity a disease? Sometimes but not always, experts decide<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><em>Catch </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/M1Uc-esdZJI?si=-lQAT-aOzJ4c9Jcu"><em>the full interview with John Paul Cesar de los Trinos</em></a><em> on Top Story, exclusively on the ABS-CBN News Channel.</em></div>

<p>The Philippines may be sitting on a goldmine of working-age citizens—but a growing weight problem threatens to sink it.</p>

The Philippines may be sitting on a goldmine of working-age citizens—but a growing weight problem threatens to sink it.

The hidden cost of obesity: PH risks losing its workforce before it grows up

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The hidden cost of obesity: PH risks losing its workforce before it grows up

Raine Musñgi,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 11, 2025 02:45 PM PHT

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John Paul Cesar de los Trinos

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