Baguio city: The National Nutrition Council-Cordillera Administrative Region (NNC-CAR) has renewed its call for the public to resume physical activity following the holiday season, warning against the health risks associated with prolonged feasting and a sedentary lifestyle. Velanie Balajadia, Nutrition Officer III of NNC-CAR, emphasized that extended holidays should not serve as an excuse to neglect exercise.
According to Philippines News Agency, Balajadia highlighted the importance of engaging in various forms of physical activity to burn the excess fat, salt, and sugar stored in the body due to excessive eating during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. She urged the public to avoid a sedentary lifestyle, noting that inactivity increases the risk of developing life-threatening illnesses that may lead to premature death.
Sedentary lifestyle, characterized by insufficient physical activity and prolonged sitting, is linked to a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and metabolic disorders. Balajadia stated that physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases and that people who are insufficiently active have a 20 to 30 percent higher risk of death compared to those who are sufficiently active.
Balajadia also pointed out that physical inactivity often goes hand in hand with unhealthy dietary habits, further increasing health risks. She emphasized that merely increasing physical activity is not enough to reduce health risks; it must be complemented by a healthy diet to improve metabolic health, body weight, and cardiovascular condition.
The government's nutrition arm urged Filipinos to be more health-conscious as they welcome the new year to remain healthy and productive in the years ahead. Meanwhile, Baguio City Health Officer Celia Flor Brillantes earlier noted that a sedentary lifestyle has contributed to rising mortality rates in the city, with records showing an increase in deaths linked to cardiovascular disease from 2,955 in 2023 to 3,079 in 2024.
