Obesity Among College Students of a Higher Education Institution in Northern Philippines: Focusing on the University’s Anti-Obesity Program

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity has increased for the past decades and has been continuously rising globally. One factor that contributes to the rise in the number of obese individuals is the school environment that encourages behavior related to diet, physical activity, and obesity. This paper aimed to find out the prevalence of obesity among the college students of one Higher Education Institution in the northern Philippines and evaluate the school’s anti-obesity program to strategize interventions and prevention of obesity among its students. This study made use of the quantitative descriptive design and documentary analysis of the medical records of the students. The World Health Organization Body Mass Index standard was used to categorize weight and obesity. Inspection and observation of the food outlets both inside and outside the campus were also done. To find out about the school health programs, an unstructured interview with the Health Services-in charge was done. The prevalence of obesity among the students of the University is higher (33%) than the Philippine prevalence of 31.1%. There are no specific anti-obesity interventions/activities of the school health program of the school. Further, this study found out that the prevalence of obesity among the university students is high due to the following: 1) lack of specific anti-obesity health program; 2.) abundance of food outlets that serve high calorie and high-fat foods; and 3.) lack of national law about food choices to be served to students in the tertiary level in the Philippines.