As the Philippines prepares to mark National Children’s Month in November, renewed calls are being made to address an alarming nutritional gap, with recent data showing a rise in both underweight and overweight children.

A 2023 report from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) revealed that 21.3 percent of Filipino children aged 5-10 are underweight, while 8.4 percent suffer from muscle wasting. Simultaneously, 12.9 percent are either overweight or obese. These figures represent an increase compared to the FNRI’s 2021 data.

The persistent issue was also highlighted in a February 2025 research report by the nonprofit organization Thrive.

Dr. Yvonne Marie Ferrer, Medical Affairs Head for FEIHE Philippines, emphasized the urgency of addressing nutritional challenges during early childhood, a period of rapid growth. She warned that missing this critical window could diminish a child’s opportunities to excel later in life.

Ferrer suggested that a simple and effective step to help close the nutritional gap is for school-aged children to consume one to two glasses of milk daily, citing its significant benefits for optimal growth and development.

However, a recent FNRI study showed that only half of the Filipino child population consumes milk daily, a fact Ferrer called a cause for concern.

“Parents should not miss out on the milk benefits for their children as an essential food and nutritional source. Not drinking milk on a daily basis may leave lasting consequences on children’s health and learning potential,” she said.

Ferrer cautioned parents to be discerning when choosing milk products, noting that not all milk is the same.

She recommended a fresh milk formula option, such as AceKid Activegro, explaining that its “farm-to-can process” uses a single-step approach with less heat treatment and storage than conventional formulas.

This method, she claimed, helps retain the milk’s natural nutrients, which can be degraded by the numerous heating treatments used in traditional manufacturing.

She also pointed out that the formula does not contain sucrose or maltodextrin, which can prevent early tooth decay, condition children toward sweet tastes, and reduce the possibility of developing diabetes later in life.