Study: Majority of Filipino Workers are at Risk of Getting Obese

By Mommy Donna and Kib - May 15, 2016

Herbalife's 5th Asia-Pacific Wellness Tour seeks to address health issues associated with sedentary lifestyles and deepen practical understanding on the benefits of a healthy, active life.

As you may know, I am an advocate of healthy living. Before I really cannot understand why people need to take care of health until my father got terribly sick and when I become a mom. I always pray to God to provide me and my son good health throughout the year. I also try to exercise every day to keep myself fit. I need to set a good example to my son. I am happy that my son eats vegetables.

I have already heard about Herbalife years ago. My mom even tried taking Herbalife supplements and she was happy about the results after taking Herbalife.

Recently, Herbalife has released the findings of the new "Nutrition At Work" Survey, which revealed that the majority of the Philippines' workforce leads largely sedentary lifestyles, putting them at risk of obesity. Herbalife, one of the leading global nutrition company in the world, has conducted the Nutrition At Work survey in March 2016 with 5,500 respondents aged 18 years old and above working full-time. Respondents were from various countries such as Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesa, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Out of the 5,500 respondents, 500 came from the Philippines.

Based on the results of the study, almost nine out of 10 (85%0 workers in the Philippines spend at least six hours a day sitting at their desk, with 52% of its workforce eating lunch at their work desk 2-5 times per week. The survey also revealed that majority of Philippines' workforce (86%) exercise less than three times per week, with five out of 10 getting less than 30 minutes of physical activity a day at their workplace. This suggests a significantly worrying trend locally, on the back of rising obesity rates recorded in recent years.

Check out the summary of the study on this chart

However, let us not lose hope. The risk of obesity could be averted if workers in the Philippines decide to take control of their own nutritional intake and exercise regimen. Close to eight out of 10 workers (75%) affirmed that they strive to live a healthy, active life; however, the majority of the respondents noted that they find it difficult to stay active during workdays.

Mr. Rosalio Valenzuela, General Manager of Herbalife Philippines, saw the need of Filipino workers on living a healthy, active lifestyle. "With a majority of the Philippines' workforce leading largely sedentary lifestyles, our mission as a global nutrition company is to help people in the Philippines take practical steps towards leading healthy, active lives. By inculcating positive nutrition and active lifestyle habits to people in the Philippines, we hope that this will, over time, help reduce obesity risks and lead to positive improvements to the well-being of our people," he said.

To address the health issues associated with sedentary lifestyles and deepening practical understanding on the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles, Herbalife recently launched its 5th Asia Pacific Wellness Tour 2016, which is held on April-May 2016. The latest edition of the Wellness Tour builds upon the successes of the past four hours that welcomed more than 80,000 participants across the region, and features a host of medical symposiums, talks, and workshops led by seven experts from Herbalife's Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB), covering 26 cities across Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Dr. Gary Small, a specialist in brain health health and aging, has recently visited Philippines and shared his expert views on digital dementia and brain aging. Dr. Small has authored more than 500 scientific works and received numerous awards and honors in his field, including the "Senior Investigator Award" from the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry. During the talk, he addressed heath and nutrition-related issues associated with sedentary lifestyles. He also shared practical tips on how today's workforce can live healthier lives by making simple changes to their daily lifestyles. Health and medical professionals, academics, as well as the general public have also engaged in lively dialogues with Dr. Small at the event, and they even had a chance to network with like-minded professionals through the Herbalife Asia-Pacific Wellness Tour platform.

Following are the team of Herbalife NAB experts to have participated in the latest Asia-Pacific Wellness Tour:

Dr. David Heber (chairman of Herbalife Nutrition Institute and Nutrition Advisory Board, a leading expert in the field of nutrition, names as one of "The World's Most Influential Scientific Minds" by Thomson Reuters in 2014 and has been repeatedly included in "The Best Doctors in America" list)
Dr. Chin-Kun Wang (awarded the National Award of Biomedicine in Taiwan in 2008 for his contribution medical education. Dr. Wang is an expert in metabolism and nutrition, with focus on the clinical evaluation of nutritional supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional food and herbs.)
Dr. Julian Alvarez Garcia (specialist in sports medicine and sports physiology who has advised professional teams, national teams, and individual athletes on a range of disciplines including weightlifting, triathlons, mountain biking, football, and basketball.)
Dr. Darren Burgess (current head of High Performance at Port Adelaide Football Club, and former head of fitness and conditioning at Liverpool Football Club. He is an expert in sports science and nutrition who has authored papers in multiple peer review journals.
Dr. Nataniel Viuniski (currently an advisor to Brazil's Health and Education Ministry for Childhood Obesity. He is an expert in pediatrics and nutrition who has authored "Childhood Obesity--A Practical Guide".)
Dr. Francis Gregory Samonte (recipient of Chairman's Achievement Award from the University of Louisville, Kentucky's Department of Pediatrics. He is one of the Philppines' premier experts in pediatric neurology, and the first Filipino to the appointed to NAB.)

These experts were also joined by Dr. Luigi Gratton, Herbalife's vice president of nutrition education and development. He has written numerous articles on nutrition and obesity, and has appeared on television several times for speaking about nutrition, anti-aging medicine, sports nutrition, and other medical-related topics.

In conclusion, Mr. Valenzuela added, "With each new edition of the Wellness Tour, we are seeing an increasing number of people gain practical knowledge to lead better lives. We hope that this year's Tour will further empower people to take charge of their nutritional intake and regimen, so that they can enjoy the full benefits of a healthy, active life."

Are you ready to have an active and healthy lifestyle? Start now!

About Herbalife

Herbalife is a global nutrition company that has been changing people’s lives with great products since 1980.

Our nutrition, weight-management, energy and fitness and personal care products are available exclusively to and through dedicated Independent Herbalife Members in more than 90 countries. We are committed to addressing the global obesity epidemic by offering high-quality products, one-on-one coaching with a Herbalife Member and a community that inspires customers to live a healthy, active life.

We support the Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) and its Casa Herbalife programs to help bring good nutrition to children in need. We also sponsor more than 190 world-class athletes, teams and events around the globe, including Cristiano Ronaldo, the LA Galaxy and champions in many other sports.

The company has over 8,000 employees worldwide, and its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HLF) with net sales of US$4.5 billion in 2015.