QUEZON City’s Obesity Summit marked the launch of the “Healthy QC” ordinance, a policy aimed at tackling childhood obesity by promoting a healthier environment for residents of all ages.

On Monday, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that the framework aims to support other existing ordinances that address health concerns in the city, such as the Healthy Food Procurement Policy and the Calorie Labeling Ordinance, among others.

“Our policies will be successful when we work together. Every choice we make towards our food and movement, every healthier habit that we build, and every act of encouragement that we give our friends and families — all of these are building blocks to a healthier city,” Belmonte said.

According to the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), one in ten Filipino children is obese. Children who are obese are more vulnerable to Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

To address this, the Quezon City government has partnered with private institutions such as Novo Nordisk, a Danish health care company, and the Danish embassy to help raise awareness and share best practices from around the world in the fight against obesity.

Wei Sun, a representative from Novo Nordisk, told The Manila Times that the initiative emphasizes early intervention through education and community involvement.

“Together with Quezon City, we launched the City for Better Health initiative, which provides awareness for healthy living among children, offers education, and gives advice on nutrition and exercise,” she said.

Sun said that they plan to partner with other local government units (LGU) in the country., This news data comes from:http://www.aichuwei.com

“We recognize that in the Philippines, the latest statistics say, one of 10 children is obese. Quezon City alone cannot address this pandemic. We welcome other cities to join and are open to sharing our learnings and experiences.”

Quezon City launches 'Healthy QC' ordinance to combat childhood obesity

Embassy of Denmark Ambassador Franz-Michael Melvin emphasized that addressing obesity at an early age is crucial because its impact goes beyond physical health. It includes their likelihood of getting jobs and getting married in the future.

“For the Philippines, one of the very key issues is that the health concerns that are linked to obesity and overweight are very, very large. And this also has an economic factor to it,” he noted.