MANILA, Philippines, January 26, 2021 – Premier global nutrition company, Herbalife Nutrition, recently released findings from the 2020 Diet Decisions Survey, which revealed that Filipino consumers are eating better. Among those polled, 53% said they have started eating more fruits and vegetables and 43% ate more plant-based food. Among the 11 Asia Pacific markets surveyed, the Philippines also ranked highest (62%) in their openness to plant-based foods/meatless options.
The survey,
which polled 8,000 consumers in eight Asia
Pacific markets, including Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines,
South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, also shed light into the motivations behind
the consumers’ recent dietary and lifestyle changes, with the aim of inspiring
more people to adopt better nutrition and lifestyle habits to improve their
overall well-being now and into the future.
“These results are a good
sign that Filipinos are becoming more mindful about their personal health.
Making healthier food choices and becoming more open to plant-based and
meatless options and staying physically active — these are great ways to start
combating obesity, which has been rising worldwide,” said Dr. Rocio Medina, Vice Chairwoman and Member,
Nutrition Advisory Board, Herbalife Nutrition.
Dr.
Medina spoke about “Reversing Obesity Among Filipinos” during the Virtual
Wellness Tour of Herbalife Nutrition Philippines. The monthly event is part of
Herbalife Nutrition’s continuing efforts and commitment to raise public
awareness on the importance of balanced nutrition and having a healthy active
lifestyle.
“Obesity
is recognized by leading health organizations, including the American Medical
Association and the World Health Organization (WHO), as a chronic disease. It
is associated with decreased life expectancy and co-morbidities and requires a
long and comprehensive management approach to help people,” Dr. Medina pointed
out. She added that the WHO has even declared obesity as the as the largest
global health pandemic in adults and is becoming a more serious problem than
malnutrition.
Citing
figures from the Department of Science and
Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), Dr. Medina said
that one of three adults in the Philippines is obese and this trend has been
increasing over time. A high prevalence of young adult obesity occurs across the
country, with most obese young adults to be found in Luzon.
Reversing
obesity
According to Dr. Medina,
there are three factors that can help improve body composition:
o
Increasing one’s intake of high biological value
protein, like isolated soy protein, egg white, beef protein, fish, poultry, and
whey
o
Decreasing one’s consumption of simple
carbohydrates such as white bread, white sugar, and white rice.
o
Increasing one’s physical activity like doing
strength training for 2 to 3 times a week and resistance aerobic training for 3
to 4 times a week.
She also
advised cutting down on added sugars.
“Choosing a
healthy eating pattern low in added sugars can have important health benefits,”
Dr. Medina said.
Top
motivators for eating healthier
According to the 2020
Diet Decisions Survey, 58% of
the Filipino respondents have made a major change to their diet during the
pandemic and 89% agreed that they had a specific moment during the pandemic
when they realized they needed to change their diet. Among their top motivators include:
o
Their health (82%)
o
Weight loss (51%)
o
More cost-effective (27%)
Beyond making changes to
their diet, 56% also started to exercise more, with consumers in Vietnam,
Philippines and Indonesia leading the way.
Filipino
consumers believe they will emerge healthier
from the
pandemic
According to the survey
findings, 77% believe that they would emerge from the pandemic healthier than
they were before and 88% claimed they already noticed a positive difference in
their health since they changed their diet. Majority (83%) said they plan to
keep the dietary changes that they made for a prolonged period of time.
To help maintain their
new diets in the new normal, Filipino consumers said having the following could
help:
o
Easy-to-follow meal plans (62%)
o
Convenient alternatives that don’t take long to
make (45%)
o
A health and wellness coach (40%)
When it
comes to meal plans, Dr. Medina said that a reduced calorie meal plan should be
individualized. It should be selected to reflect the person’s personal and
cultural preferences.
She
likewise added that behavior coaching can also make a difference in improving
one’s habits.
“For many
people, targeted behavior coaching, which transforms their eating, exercise,
and other habits, known as intensive lifestyle intervention, can make a
difference,” Dr. Medina said.
Concluding,
Dr. Medina underlined the importance of nutrition education.
“Having
education in an area helps people think, feel, and behave in a way that
contributes to their success, and improves not only their personal satisfaction
but also their community,” she said.
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About
Herbalife Nutrition
Herbalife Nutrition is a global nutrition company whose purpose is to make the world
healthier and happier. The Company has been on a mission for nutrition -
changing people's lives with great nutrition products and programs - since
1980. Herbalife Nutrition offers high-quality, science-backed products,
one-on-one coaching with an Herbalife Nutrition Independent Member, and a supportive community
that inspires customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Herbalife Nutrition’s targeted nutrition, weight-management, energy and fitness and
personal care products are available through its Independent Members in more
than 90 countries.
Herbalife Nutrition supports the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation, a non-profit
organization that assists community organizations focused on providing good
nutrition. Herbalife Nutrition is also proud to sponsor more than 190
world-class athletes, teams and events around the globe.
Herbalife Nutrition has more than 8,300 employees worldwide. To learn more,
visit IAmHerbalife.com.
