Malnutrition most prevalent among fisherfolk families: survey

LADY VICENCIO

ABS-CBN News

<img src="https://news-image-api.abs-cbn.com/Prod/editorImage/1706623662389.jpeg" style="width: 950px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Fisherfolk and port workers attend to their boats amid strong winds at the Binangonan Fish Port in Rizal on May 31, 2023. ABS-CBN News/Jonathan Cellona, file MANILA &mdash; Malnutrition is most prevalent among fishing families, a study by the Department of Science and Technology Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) showed.&nbsp;Results of the Expanded National Nutrition Survey collected in 2018, 2019, and 2021 showed that one in every five infants to toddlers aged five in the Philippines were underweight. &nbsp;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/12/23/malnutrition-still-prevalent-in-ph-study">Malnutrition still prevalent in PH: study</a> Three out of ten kids in the same age group from among fisher families were stunted.&nbsp; Meanwhile 3 out of every 10 children aged between 5 and 10 years old were underweight and stunted.&nbsp;Atty. Gloria Ramos, vice president of non-government group Oceana, linked poverty and lack of access to affordable food as factors to malnutrition among kids from the fishing sector.&nbsp;&ldquo;Ironically, &lsquo;yan ang sinasabi nila: &#39;Kami ang nagpu-provide, pero kami ang mahirap. Malnourished ang aming children because &lsquo;yung mga high value, &lsquo;yung maayos na isda, ibinebenta. Sa kanila &lsquo;yung tira-tira&#39;,&quot; Ramos said.&nbsp;With lack of quality food, children are at risk of developing micronutrient deficiency, according to the National Nutrition Council. Micronutrient deficiency can lead to drowsiness, fatigue, and low intelligence quotient.&nbsp;Experts advise increasing intake of seafood rich in micronutrients needed for mental development such as iron, iodine, and vitamin A.&nbsp;DOST-FNRI Senior Science Research Specialist Eva Goyena noted that households commonly consume milkfish and tilapia because these are affordable.&nbsp;However, she stressed that wild catch fishes like tuna, mackerel, and round scad (galunggong) offer more nutritional value.&nbsp;&ldquo;Mas mataas ang nutritional value in terms of calcium, Omega-3, fatty acids, iron, Vitamin A, and other micronutrients&hellip;They are less affordable if i-compare mo &lsquo;yung isang kilo ng lapu-lapu compared to bangus, but we need to consider the nutritional value especially the Omega-6, which is good for the heart,&quot; Goyena said.&nbsp;Dr. Azucena Dayanghirang of the National Nutrition Council encouraged families to help teach kids to eat fish and seafood.&nbsp;&quot;To all the mothers out there: everyone, start your children food to be nourished with food that are healthy, nutritious. Rich in proteins, carbohydrates&hellip;Kailangan din natin ng iodine; it makes us have higher IQ points,&quot; Dayanghirang said.&nbsp;Sen. Cynthia Villar, who heads the Senate Committee on Agriculture, sees the urgency to prioritize the fisheries sector.&nbsp;&quot;According to study, dati ang fish from the wild catch is 70 percent. Ngayon, 46 percent na lang&hellip; Aquaculture is overtaking the wild catch in terms of producing the fish for our people so may problema talaga tayo,&rdquo; the senator said.&nbsp;Local Government Undersecretary Odillion Pasaraba, meanwhile, encouraged local government units in coastal areas to foster growth in these communities.&nbsp;&quot;Government units considered to be coastal, please remember that your strength for growth is the waters. You will never go wrong with coastal resource management, fish preservation,&quot; he said.

Results of the Expanded National Nutrition Survey collected in 2018, 2019, and 2021 showed that one in every five infants to toddlers aged five in the Philippines were underweight. &nbsp;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/12/23/malnutrition-still-prevalent-in-ph-study">Malnutrition still prevalent in PH: study</a> Three out of ten kids in the same age group from among fisher families were stunted.&nbsp; Meanwhile 3 out of every 10 children aged between 5 and 10 years old were underweight and stunted.&nbsp;Atty. Gloria Ramos, vice president of non-government group Oceana, linked poverty and lack of access to affordable food as factors to malnutrition among kids from the fishing sector.&nbsp;&ldquo;Ironically, &lsquo;yan ang sinasabi nila: &#39;Kami ang nagpu-provide, pero kami ang mahirap. Malnourished ang aming children because &lsquo;yung mga high value, &lsquo;yung maayos na isda, ibinebenta. Sa kanila &lsquo;yung tira-tira&#39;,&quot; Ramos said.&nbsp;With lack of quality food, children are at risk of developing micronutrient deficiency, according to the National Nutrition Council. Micronutrient deficiency can lead to drowsiness, fatigue, and low intelligence quotient.&nbsp;Experts advise increasing intake of seafood rich in micronutrients needed for mental development such as iron, iodine, and vitamin A.&nbsp;DOST-FNRI Senior Science Research Specialist Eva Goyena noted that households commonly consume milkfish and tilapia because these are affordable.&nbsp;However, she stressed that wild catch fishes like tuna, mackerel, and round scad (galunggong) offer more nutritional value.&nbsp;&ldquo;Mas mataas ang nutritional value in terms of calcium, Omega-3, fatty acids, iron, Vitamin A, and other micronutrients&hellip;They are less affordable if i-compare mo &lsquo;yung isang kilo ng lapu-lapu compared to bangus, but we need to consider the nutritional value especially the Omega-6, which is good for the heart,&quot; Goyena said.&nbsp;Dr. Azucena Dayanghirang of the National Nutrition Council encouraged families to help teach kids to eat fish and seafood.&nbsp;&quot;To all the mothers out there: everyone, start your children food to be nourished with food that are healthy, nutritious. Rich in proteins, carbohydrates&hellip;Kailangan din natin ng iodine; it makes us have higher IQ points,&quot; Dayanghirang said.&nbsp;Sen. Cynthia Villar, who heads the Senate Committee on Agriculture, sees the urgency to prioritize the fisheries sector.&nbsp;&quot;According to study, dati ang fish from the wild catch is 70 percent. Ngayon, 46 percent na lang&hellip; Aquaculture is overtaking the wild catch in terms of producing the fish for our people so may problema talaga tayo,&rdquo; the senator said.&nbsp;Local Government Undersecretary Odillion Pasaraba, meanwhile, encouraged local government units in coastal areas to foster growth in these communities.&nbsp;&quot;Government units considered to be coastal, please remember that your strength for growth is the waters. You will never go wrong with coastal resource management, fish preservation,&quot; he said.

MANILA &mdash; Malnutrition is most prevalent among fishing families, a study by the Department of Science and Technology Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) showed.&nbsp;

<img src="https://news-image-api.abs-cbn.com/Prod/editorImage/1706623662389.jpeg" style="width: 950px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Fisherfolk and port workers attend to their boats amid strong winds at the Binangonan Fish Port in Rizal on May 31, 2023. ABS-CBN News/Jonathan Cellona, file

Malnutrition is most prevalent among fishing families, a study by the Department of Science and Technology Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) showed.

Malnutrition is most prevalent among fishing families, a study by the Department of Science and Technology Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) showed.

Malnutrition most prevalent among fisherfolk families: survey | ABS-CBN News

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Malnutrition most prevalent among fisherfolk families: survey

Malnutrition most prevalent among fisherfolk families: survey