tbh: to be healthy

Hey, co-students! It’s been more than a year since the online set-up of learning started, and have you ever thought of the negative effects we’re getting from it?

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE PANDEMIC COVID-19 CONFINEMENT INCREASES RISK OF STRESS AND NUTRITIONAL HEALTH ESPECIALLY AMONG STUDENTS?

COVID-19 has led to the closure of businesses and schools , and a year into the pandemic, almost half of the world’s students are affected by school closures. Thus, coping up with online learning has influenced student’s dietary behaviors, physical activity, as well as stress risks.

HOW DID THE COVID-19 QUARANTINE AFFECT THE EATING PATTERNS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS?

University students are a vulnerable group for poor dietary intake, insufficient physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Nutrient caloric intakes were significantly reduced during the pandemic whereas alcohol intake increased. Frequent snacking is observed from some students due to increased free time or stress. Students with more severe depressive symptoms, a partial consequence of COVID-19 lockdown, tend to have a diet rich in carbohydrates. Also, online examinations had a negative impact on students’ dietary habits such as increase consumption of caffeine, high energy drinks, high sugar food, and fast food or skipping of meals

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF POOR DIETARY HABITS ON HEALTH?
Poor dietary habits could result in obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and malnutrition. Moreover, inconsistent and skipping meals due to depressive symptoms could produce low energy levels, lead to decrease in muscle mass and increase the risk of weight gain. Stress eating could also produce a variety of weight-related health problems such as diabetes.

AS COLLEGE STUDENTS, HERE ARE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A HEALTHIER HABIT THIS ONLINE SET-UP:
1. Make time for yourself! This includes allotting a specific time for meals, and by engaging yourself with physical activity you can do indoors like yoga!
2. Consume a nutritionally adequate and balanced diet. Every meal should consist of food items rich in protein (meats), carbohydrates (rice), fruits, and vegetables to meet the body's daily needs.
3. Healthier snacks must be a priority! Choose snacks fortified with certain nutrients, and contain little to no saturated fat, and sodium. Better yet, prepare your own snacks or simply consume fruits.
4. Lastly, commit to the change you want to happen!

For more information, check out these links:
https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.1139/apnm-2020-0990
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666321000386?dgcid=rss_sd_all
https://journal.fkm.ui.ac.id/kesmas/article/view/3897
https://www.deccanherald.com/living/health-and-well-being/can-irregular-meal-timings-be-detrimental-to-health-759726.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7604013/W

Have you heard about stunting? If not, don’t fret!

We’ve compiled some of the key talking points during the Nutrition Month 2020 regarding this topic:

A. Are Filipino children naturally short?
- All children can experience the same growth potential if provided with the same care therefore nationality or genes are not a sole factor in terms of height.

B. What is the current situation of stunting in the Philippines?
- The prevalence of stunting has decreased by 6.6% when the 2015 ENNS (Expanded National Nutrition Survey) has been compared to 2018 ENNS. Children aged 8, 9, and 10 years old have the highest rate among the age group of 6-10.
- 1 out 4 children are stunted in our country and this is considered as a public health concern with high severity.

C. What can you do as a mother/caregiver for your child to avoid stunting?
- Give enough nutrients to the child
- Breastfeed the child solely for the first 6 months
- Good hygiene and medical care must be practiced
- Participate in nutrition and health education classes
- Prevent teen pregnancy
- Provide support and care to single mothers
- start and maintain a food garden to have more access to healthier options

Always remember that PROPER NUTRITION IS THE KEY 🔑 to a healthier life.