People exercise along University Avenue at the University of the Philippines - Diliman in Quezon City on May 16, 2021. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File.

MANILA -- For an official of the Department of Health (DOH), talking about obesity and being overweight has nothing to do with "fat shaming," but the risk factors being posed by the said conditions that may affect one's health. 

"Hindi tayo nagfa-fat shame, masama po mag-fat shame. Ang usaping overweight at obese ay hindi tungkol sa itsura. Ito ay tungkol sa risk factors para sa mga sakit na maaaring makasama. Bonus na lang na nagmumukha tayong mas sexy kapag hindi tayo overweight at obese," DOH Asec. Albert Domingo said Tuesday.

Domingo explained the calories taken by the body and the equivalent physical activities matter.

"Overweight and obese, kumbaga ilang kilo lang ang nilamang ng obese sa overweight, so it's a spectrum. Anong dahilan nila? Basically, titingnan natin iyong ating ‘calories in’ tsaka ‘calories out’. ‘Pag mas marami kang pinapasok na calories, mas marami kang kinakain. Tapos ang ‘calories out’ mo, ang kilos mo hindi ganoon karami e ang mangyayari talaga maiipon iyon. Mapupunta sa ating katawan bilang taba," he told ABS-CBN News.

BASAHIN: Bakit dumarami ang obese sa Pilipinas?

Domingo admitted there is an "increasing trend" in the number of overweight and obese adults, based on data from the National Nutrition Survey—from 31.1 percent among Filipino adults in 2015, to 38 percent in 2018, and 40.2 percent in 2021. 

The statistics are based on the body mass index, which is computed by dividing body weight in kilograms by height in meters and squaring the result.

"Anything above 30 is obese... ang 25 to 29.9 ay considered overweight. Maraming risk iyan. Pagka ikaw ay overweight at obese, mas mataas iyong chances na magkaroon ka ng diabetes, heart disease tsaka ng stroke. So hindi talaga maganda. Dapat talaga bantayan natin ang timbang natin," he said.

The agency continues to advocate for its health promotion programs, tapping local government units (LGUs) to enforce measures that will help residents get more physical activities.

PANOORIN: Gaano ka kasiguradong malusog ang anak mo?

Taking everything in moderation is also key to a healthier lifestyle, he said. 

"Kinakausap natin ang ating LGUs para mas marami tayong active transport. Mas maganda na maglakad... Kung kaya naman natin, ano bang pwedeng gawin? Siguro ang employers natin, kung kakayanin, baka may shower on site. Para okay lang magbisikleta, okay maglakad kung alam mong pagdating sa opisina, pwede kang maligo, pwede kang magpalit," Domingo shared.

"Ating pine-prescribe ang pinggang Pilipino. Mas marami dapat ang gulay kesa sa ating mga karne at taba. Sabi nga ni Sec. Herbosa... iwas tayo sa sobrang 'ma': maalat, matamis, mataba. Everything in moderation. Huwag na tayong manigarilyo, huwag na tayong mag-vape at huwag na tayong uminom ng alak," he added.

In 2022, 1 in 8 people in the world were living with obesity, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The number of overweight adults increased from 25 percent in 1990 to 43 percent or 2.5 billion people in 2022, the WHO said. 

READ: Malnutrition also involves overweight kids - Herbosa

WHO defines overweight as a "condition of excessive fat deposits," and obesity as a "chronic complex disease defined by excessive fat deposits that can impair health."

The agency explained the conditions are "largely preventable and manageable", through "preventive interventions at each step of the life cycle."

The WHO's list of interventions against these conditions include: 

• "ensure appropriate weight gain during pregnancy;

• practice exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months after birth and continued breastfeeding until 24 months or beyond;

• support behaviors of children around healthy eating, physical activity, sedentary behaviors and sleep, regardless of current weight status;

• limit screen time;

• limit consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and energy-dense foods and promote other healthy eating behaviors;

• enjoy a healthy life (healthy diet, physical activity, sleep duration and quality, avoid tobacco and alcohol, emotional self-regulation);

• limit energy intake from total fats and sugars and increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts; and

• engage in regular physical activity."

The WHO marks World Obesity Day on March 4. 

RELATED VIDEO: