THE United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) revealed that 99 percent of food products marketed to Filipino children do not meet global standards, underscoring the need for stronger legislative measures to protect minors from aggressive marketing tactics used on foods or drinks high in sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats. In a statement late Friday, Unicef revealed that among the 1,035 digital food advertisements marketed to children in the country, 99 percent of the products did not meet the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for marketing to children. This, they claim, contributed to the rise of obesity in school-aged children, with 12.9 percent compared to only 10.4 percent in 2019. They attributed the rise to diets shifting toward ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks, which, they said, are heavily marketed and designed to be convenient. If not addressed, they warned that by 2035, an estimated 4 billion people globally — which comprises half of the world’s population — could be overweight or obese. With that, Unicef, along with the WHO and the National Nutrition Council (NNC), urged the Philippine government to pass the proposed healthy food environment bill, which aims to shield children from aggressive marketing tactics promoted on foods or drinks high in sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats. Kyungsun Kim, Unicef Philippines representative, stressed the importance of the bill, saying, “The healthy food environment bill will strengthen food marketing safeguards for children where they live, learn and play, and make it easier for families to make healthier food choices.” The proposed measure aims to strengthen restrictions on marketing to children, implement front-of-pack nutrition labeling, and set school food standards. About 20 versions of the bill have been filed in Congress. The measure also seeks to establish a framework for classifying food based on its nutritional content. Acting WHO Representative to the Philippines, Eunyoung Ko, underscored the need for comprehensive policy action. “Creating healthier food environments is essential if we are serious about preventing childhood overweight, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. This includes putting in place strong policies to protect children from the harmful marketing of unhealthy foods and drinks, and clear front-of-pack nutrition labeling to help families make healthier choices more easily. WHO will continue supporting the Government of the Philippines with technical guidance and evidence-based assistance to advance these measures,” said Acting WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Eunyoung Ko. Aside from pushing for legislation, the NNC is strengthening its overweight and obesity management and prevention program under the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023–2028. The initiative aims to address obesity by promoting healthy habits among children, improving data systems, and expanding access to affordable and nutritious food. “Obesity is not a failure of individuals — it is often a failure of systems. We must transform our food environments, strengthen our policies, and work together to ensure that healthy choices become the easiest choices for every Filipino,” said Rosalina Bascao, OIC executive director IV of the National Nutrition Council.