FIRST, the hard facts.
One out of every three children in the Philippines aged 5 to 10 years old is suffering from stunted growth. On top of this, one out of every three children aged 5 to 10 years old is underweight. This is according to the 2015 Updating of the Nutritional Status of Filipinos developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Philippines (FNRI).
Stunted growth is defined by The World Health Organization as the “failure to reach one’s full potential for growth” and poor nutrition is one of its many causes. This can result in a child being underweight or weighing less than the average for his or her age and height.
But there is a way to address this problem.
Idelia G. Glorioso, Senior Science Research Specialist of the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Philippines (DOST-FNRI), said that drinking milk, plus an active lifestyle, can help kids achieve their proper height and weight.
Bent on raising awareness on the importance of having proper nutrition, Glorioso, who was the resource speaker in a recently held forum on information regarding the country’s nutrition status, emphasized that stunted growth as well as being underweight are problems that should not be ignored.
She also added that if not addressed early, stunted growth may lead to lost productivity and opportunities, and to nutrition-related
diseases later in life.
It is a known fact that milk is essential for growing children to have enough and consistent nutrient
intake to ensure maximum growth potential.
After a successful launch in Manila and a media roundtable discussion in Davao, Alaska’s Batang Alaska Milk Program was brought to Cebu City
for another media roundtable discussion to promote awareness about stunted growth and being underweight among kids and how these can be addressed with proper nutrition.
Glorioso emphasized the need for parents to make sure their kids, especially those who are three to 12 years old, to maintain a diet that is energy giving (Go), which means rice and other alternatives, body building (Grow), which refers to protein sources, like meat and fish, and body regulating (Glow), which is composed of fruits and vegetables.
The aim of the forum is to provide information on proper and affordable nutrition to Filipinos, which Alaska Milk Corporation has been doing for over four decades.
“Our mission and vision is to promote affordable nutrition in the Philippines because through this, the Filipino youth will be able to achieve their full potential and grow up competitive in life,” said Isabel Ruiz, Alaska Milk Corporation Marketing Manager.
To support this goal, they have launched the new Alaska Fortified Powdered Milk, which is a good source of vitamin D, high in calcium and iron and packed with protein.
It has “essential nutrients that will help every Filipino child achieve the right height and weight for their age.”
Ruiz encouraged everyone to drink milk everyday as well as maintain a balanced diet and an active lifestyle.