Health experts urge women to eat right to avoid NCDs

In celebration of Women’s Month, health experts from the Healthy Philippines Alliance (HPA) urged women to monitor their health and eat healthy in order to prevent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

“We want the numbers to go down for women. A balanced diet is key, which, paired with increased physical activity, greatly contributes to reducing NCDs,” Board Member of Diabetes Philippines Leyden Florido said.

“Plus, making healthier food choices allows women to holistically look and feel good,” he added.

According to the 2019 World Health Organization Country Profile for the Philippines, NCDs accounts for 72% total deaths of Filipino women, and 240,000 women died annually.

Other leading causes of death among women include cancer, which killed 36,060 more women than men (32,951), and diabetes, which killed 25,150 more women than men (23,815).

Obesity also affects 8% of adult females and 5% of males.

Health experts advised women to clean up their diet and use healthcare services on a regular basis to improve their health.

“Women should make a conscious effort to modify their lifestyles and diet. Cut back on excessive refined sugar, salt, trans fat and triglycerides,” Executive Director of Health Futures Foundation Rebecca Galvez Tan said.

“In addition, have an annual health check up. It is optimal to get screened early rather than detect an NCD at a later stage,” she added.

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in Filipinos, followed by cerebrovascular disease and cancer, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

According to the NCD Alliance, NCDs kill 2 out of 3 women worldwide, accounting for 19 million deaths or 73% of all female deaths.

Meanwhile, nine million women died from cardiovascular diseases, 1.5 million from respiratory conditions, 861,000 from diabetes, and 300,000 from cervical cancer.

NCDs kill 41 million people annually.

By Katrina Gracia Consebido