Introduction: Health and nutrition interventions in developing countries have been linked to better thriving and survival of children. Identifying programmes with significant effect on the nutritional status of Filipino preschool children may aid in identifying impactful interventions in addressing malnutrition. This study evaluated the association between nutritional status of preschool children and government programme participation based on the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) results. Methods: Secondary data analysis of 12,949 preschool children was performed from the 2018 ENNS. The selected data included socioeconomic, anthropometric, and self-reported household-level and individual-level government programme participation. Chi-square test for association and multiple logistic regression were conducted using Stata version 16. Results: Participation in immunisation programme, growth monitoring, household food production, and awareness and usage of iodised salt were negatively associated with at least one type of undernutrition. Consequently, participation in deworming programme was positively associated with both underweight and stunting. Regression analysis showed that preschool children who underwent growth monitoring were less likely to be stunted (OR=0.58), while those who underwent newborn screening were less likely to be underweight (OR=0.53) and stunted (OR=0.62). On the contrary, dewormed children were more likely to be stunted (OR=1.63) and those from 4Ps households were more likely to be wasted (OR=2.24). Conclusion: There is a need to re-evaluate programme strategies to maximise the benefits provided. Programmes showing significant associations with nutritional status including immunisation, growth monitoring, deworming, household food production, and awareness and usage of iodised salt should be continued and sustained with updated policies.

Objectives: This study aims to describe the micronutrient intake and diet quality of overweight and obese Filipino adults in the National Capital Region (NCR). Specifically, it seeks to assess micronutrient inadequacy among these individuals and analyze differences in food intake based on their sociodemographic profiles and lifestyle habits. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study utilized data from the Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) conducted in 2018, 2019, and 2021 by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). A total of 3,154 overweight and obese subjects were included. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed to analyze the food groups consumed by these adults. Results: Majority of overweight and obese adults were found to be inadequate in vitamin A (81.7%), vitamin C (88.4%), thiamin (62.5%), riboflavin (70.7%), iron (69.8%), and calcium (88.7%). Significant differences were observed in the mean intake of various food groups across different age groups, sexes, civil statuses, wealth quintiles, educational attainments, employment statuses, and smoking and drinking statuses. Conclusion Filipino adults who are overweight and obese, and residing in urban settings face significant challenges related to micronutrient inadequacy. When their food intake was assessed based on sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, it was found that their diets were more calorie-dense than nutrient-dense. To address this issue, it is recommended to encourage a wider variety of nutrient-dense foods among overweight and obese adults.
food intake ; eating ; micronutrients ; overweight ; obesity ; nutritional status