Food intake, nutritional and health status of Filipino adults according to occupations based on the 8th National Nutrition Survey 2013

ABSTRACT

@#Introduction: The health and nutrition of a country's workforce plays an effective role in the social health and economic status of its society. Methods: This study determined the food intake, nutritional and health status of 69,505 Filipino adults and their households according to occupations using the 8th National Nutrition Survey conducted in 2013 by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. Occupational grouping was based on the 1992 Philippine Standard Occupation Code. Descriptive statistics such as mean and percentages were generated using the survey module (svy) of Stata 12.0. Results: Chronic Energy Deficiency and anaemia were highest among adults with no occupation (12.3% and 14.8% respectively) and lowest among officials (4.3%) and those with special occupations (4.5%). Overweight, hypertension, high fasting blood sugar and high total cholesterol levels were highest among officials and lowest among farmers and professionals. Farmers had the highest percentage of smokers, alcoholic drinkers and with high physical activity level, while adults with no occupation had the lowest physical activity level. Households headed by special occupation groups had the highest energy intake, while farmers had the lowest protein, iron, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and fat intakes. Crafts and related trade workers had the lowest percentage of households meeting the energy requirement (27.4%). Conclusion: The food intake, nutrition and health status of Filipino workers in certain occupations were poor, in need of improvement. A national policy on addressing the health, nutrition and welfare of workers is recommended.