Undernutrition has eased among young children in Davao Region, but rising overweight and obesity among schoolchildren, adolescents and adults is deepening the area’s double burden of malnutrition.
Health officials in Davao Region are sounding the alarm over a growing double burden of malnutrition, as new DOST-FNRI data show that gains in child undernutrition are being offset by a sharp rise in overweight and obesity among older children, adolescents and adults.
According to the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s 2025 Updating Survey, the region recorded improvements in several undernutrition indicators among children under five. Underweight fell to 14.2% from 17.9% in 2023, while stunting eased to 25.2% from 28.1% and wasting declined to 3.7% from 6%. Even so, health officials said the figures still amount to a continuing public health concern because one in every four young children remains stunted.
The pattern is more troubling among older age groups. Among school-age children aged five to 10, underweight dropped to 18.4% from 20.6%, stunting fell to 19% from 24% and wasting slipped to 5.3% from 6.1%. But overweight and obesity climbed sharply to 14.1%, suggesting that excess weight is now appearing earlier in childhood. Among adolescents, overweight and obesity rose to 14.4% from 10.4%, even as wasting improved and stunting edged down to 22.2%.
The Department of Health’s regional office said this combination of undernutrition and overnutrition reflects a double burden that could deepen if left unchecked. Mayflor Peralta-Espiritu, a nutritionist-dietician with DOH XI, warned that rising obesity among adolescents and adults can fuel non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. The concern is not limited to Davao Region: GMA Network reported that the national DOST-FNRI survey found obesity among adults aged 20 to 59 rose to 44.5% in 2025 from 39.8% in 2023.
Education officials said the problem is also visible in schools, where both malnutrition and overnutrition are moving in the wrong direction in some areas. Reissa T. Silda, a nutritionist-dietician with DepEd XI, said regional malnutrition declined slightly to 14.84% from 15.20%, but overnutrition increased to 6.13% from 5.89%. She said city divisions, including Davao City and Panabo City, recorded increases in both undernutrition and overnutrition, while Davao Occidental had the highest undernutrition rate and Tagum City the highest overnutrition rate.
Authorities are now pushing for a more localised response that starts before birth and continues through childhood and adolescence. DOH XI said it is promoting a life-course approach that begins with maternal health and the first 1,000 days, alongside stronger infant and young child feeding and more varied diets. DepEd XI has expanded school feeding days from 120 to 200 and said it wants more physical activity built into school programmes. Health officials also urged parents to curb excessive gadget use and make room for active play at home, while local governments were told to use the survey results as a practical guide for nutrition planning rather than as background statistics.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
