This study determined the frequency of vigorous physical activity and television viewing of 3,000 Philippine high schools students. Results showed that Filipino boys and girls who were frequent participants in vigorous physical activity had significantly lower BMI compared to those who were physically active less frequently. Conversely, Filipino boys and girls who viewed five or more hours of television during an average school day had significantly higher BMI than those who watched less television. The percentage of Philippine students in this study above the international cut offs for overweight and obesity was considerably lower than what has been found in studies of youth in developed Western nations. However, the adopting of Western lifestyle habits, including increased recreational inactivity (e.g., television viewing, video games, and surfing the Internet) and decreased participation in vigorous physical activity, could signal an emerging epidemic in this developing nation. Yet, this nation's young people also suffer a high rate of malnutrition. This paradox represents a challenging situation for designing appropriate health promotion messages and programs regarding healthful body weight. For some populations of youth, the needed message is for increased physical activity and reduced caloric intake. Yet sending a message about reduced caloric intake would be inappropriate for populations of youth that are severely underweight and/or protein-energy malnourished. Therefore, it is essential that the appropriate messages about health body weight be delivered to targeted audiences of adolescents based upon specific health and nutrition needs.
Keywords: Adolescents, International, Obesity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.