Nutritionist pushes for easier access to healthy food amid rising kidney disease cases in PH

Filipinos should demand a healthier food environment where balanced and nutritious meals are accessible to everyone amid the growing prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a nutritionist said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a forum at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City in observance of National Kidney Month, Jelina Marie Corpuz of Nutrition International said the public should not struggle to find food that meets their nutritional needs.

“Dapat mag-demand tayo. Dapat i-elevate natin yung ating voices na dapat healthy yung ating food environment,” Corpuz said during her presentation.

(We should demand. We should elevate our voices and advocate for a healthy food environment.)

“Dapat yung food environment natin ay maging catered para mas madali sa atin na kumain ng healthy food,” she added.

(Our food environment should be designed in a way that makes it easier for us to eat healthy food.)

Corpuz said this also includes providing food options and ingredients that are low in sodium.

Citing 2021 data, nephrology consultant Dr. Rachell Siute said more than 7 million Filipinos have CKD.

Data from AstraZeneca showed that CKD prevalence among Filipinos reached 35.94% in 2022. This means one Filipino is diagnosed with CKD every 40 minutes, while one patient progresses to dialysis every 60 minutes.

Separately, citing data from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and the Philippine Renal Disease Registry, the Council for the Welfare of Children said pediatric CKD cases increased from 144 in 2023 to 301 in 2024, accounting for more than 12% of all CKD patients recorded in the national registry.

Corpuz further explained that promoting a healthy diet goes beyond personal choices and involves improving the broader food system.

“Kasi yung food system, pasok dito yung availability, agrikultura, ekonomiya, at food supply chain natin,” Corpuz said.

(The food system includes availability, agriculture, the economy, and our food supply chain.)

“Kasi kung hindi po natin easily ma-access ang prutas at gulay, doon po papasok yung pag-change ng ating habits,” she added.

(If fruits and vegetables are not easily accessible, that becomes a challenge in changing our eating habits.) — MCG, GMA News