Malnutrition cases in the country have significantly increased since 2005, according to a national nutrition survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST).

The survey results showed that in every 100 pre-school children, 26 are underweight, about 28 are under height while six are thin. Two in every 100 of these children are overweight for their age while three are overweight for their height.

Results also showed that in every 100 children aged six to 10, about 26 are underweight and two are overweight.

Thirty-three of these children were under height.

A significant increase in malnutrition from 2005 to 2008 was found in children ages five and below. From 24.6 percent underweight children in 2005, this number increased to 26.2 percent in 2008. The percentage of under height children likewise increased from 26.3 percent in 2005 to 27.9 percent in 2008.

The survey also noted an increase in the number of underweight children aged six to 10 from 22.8 percent in 2005 to 25.6 percent in 2008. The pattern was the same for under height children, increasing from 32 percent in 2005 to 33.1 percent in 2008.

Based on their weight and height, the nutrition status of preschoolers in most regions is considered poor except for Central Visayas and the Davao regions.

A very high magnitude of acute malnutrition among preschoolers was noted in MIMAROPA (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and SOCCSKSARGEN, as under height-for-age prevalence registered at a very high percentage of 30.

Under height-for-age was prevalent in MIMAROPA, Bicol, and all the regions in Visayas and Mindanao.

The FNRI also found out that in every 100 adolescent aged 11-19 years, 17 were underweight and about five were overweight. There were more underweight 11-12 years old adolescents (at 25.5 percent) than the 13-19 years old (at 13.8 percent).

Cases of underweight and overweight were noted to be higher among the male than female adolescents.

The prevalence of underweight increased but the cases of overweight decreased by 0.2 percent from 2005 to 2008.

Adolescents who were underweight-for-age were mostly found in Bicol and Western Visayas, while regions with higher prevalence of underweight than the national estimate were Ilocos, Central Luzon, NCR, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA.

But the adult statistics showed a different trend. Adults aged 20- years and above were found to be more prone to obesity.

Overweight and obesity affected 27 in every 100 adults, while about 12 of these adults were chronic energy deficient (CED).

The number of CEDs has been gradually decreasing at about 0.15 percent per year, while the number of overweight individuals increased at the average rate of 0.67 percent per year.

Prevalence of adults who were at risk to CED were mostly observed in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and ARMM.

Regions with higher prevalence of overweight among adults than the national average were Central Luzon, CAR, NCR, CALABARZON, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao and CARAGA.

Also, nearly four out of 10 pregnant women aged 20 years and above and about three out of 10 pregnant women below 20 years old were at risk of delivering low birth weight infants.