CASES of obesity among children are expected to shoot up if no steps are taken to curb the rising trend, public interest law group ImagineLaw warned on Saturday.

“Childhood obesity is harmful and deadly,” ImagineLaw Executive Director Sophia San Luis said.

She cited data from the Department of Science and Technology that showed that about one in ten children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 is either overweight or obese.

Obesity, as defined by the World Health Organization, is the abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the body. It is a form of malnutrition that presents health risks.

A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund Philippines also warned that obesity among children will increase by 30 percent in 2030 if no action is taken to curb factors.

“Three in 10 Filipino children are likely to be either overweight or obese by 2030,” said San Luis. “Habang tumatanda, tumataas din ang tyansa nila na magkaroon ng heart disease, diabetes, cancer, at depresyon,” she added.

One of the biggest drivers of childhood obesity is the availability and aggressive promotion of unhealthy food and sweetened beverages to children, ImagineLaw said. It lamented that children are bombarded with advertisements that encourage unhealthy eating behaviors.

In a 2021 UNICEF study that surveyed social media posts and videos on food marketing, 99 percent of 1,035 sample posts were found to promote unhealthy food. Social media influencers who appeal to children also receive food sponsorships.

“If we want to protect our children from childhood obesity, we need to create a healthier food environment that makes healthy food choices easier,” said San Luis. “We cannot expect kids to refrain from eating unhealthy food, while at the same time allowing businesses to constantly entice them to eat it,” San Luis said.

ImagineLaw is set to convene stakeholders and parents to push for legislation that will curb unhealthy food marketing to children.

“It is high time to protect Filipino children from unhealthy food marketing,” said San Luis. “Regulating unhealthy food marketing will protect children’s lives.”