Central Visayas, Bicol and the region of Mindoro (Oriental and Occidental), Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (Mimaropa) have the highest share of underweight youths aged 15-24 years, according to the largest series of national and regionally representative cross-sectional surveys conducted by the University of the Philippines Population Institute and the Demographic Research and Development Foundation Inc.
In regions with lower poverty incidence, obesity is prevalent, a YAFS5 finding that underscores the need for better self-care literacy. Even those with more resources and better education are still not prudent in taking care of their health.
Youths should avail themselves of opportunities to exercise. Forty-one percent of the female respondents did not exercise at all, slightly less than the 43 percent who said they maintained an exercise regimen at least once a week.
Among male respondents, there were more who exercised at least once a week (55 percent), compared to the 27 percent who said they skipped exercising.
Technology shapes the leisure time of youths, a trend that became pronounced during the pandemic. While playing sports occupied 25 percent of the youths before the lockdowns, this no longer showed up as a pursuit of youths during the pandemic, dominated by online surfing and social media chats (observed among 29 percent of the YAFS5 respondents), video and online gaming (28 percent), television and movie viewing at home (27 percent) and sleep or rest (25 percent).
Parents and educators must take note that the YAFS5 points to a 30-percent increase in youths having access to the internet in 2021, compared to 2013. This means nine out of 10 youths lead digital lives.
Thirty-five percent of youths connect with online friends they have never met. This behavior is more frequent among those aged 15-19 years (40 percent) than among those aged 20-24 years (28 percent).
The virtual lives of young Filipinos do not just affect their sleeping and rest, which exacts a toll on their study and work performance.
Virtual realities may have an impact on the youths’ mental health.
The YAFS5 shows a decline in young people’s resources to deal with problems and challenges, with 17 percent of male and female respondents having an ideation of suicide in 2021, an increase from the 13 percent in 2002.
Thoughts of committing suicide were experienced by more women (24 percent in 2021 compared to 19 percent in 2002) than men (10 percent in 2021, higher than eight percent in 2002).
Women are generally perceived to be more emotional but also more expressive than men; thus, this YAFS5 finding should make adults more sensitive to responding to young people regardless of gender.
The YAFS5 also established that despite their increased activity and immersion in online relationships, only 11 percent of the respondents know of a suicide prevention or counseling program.
Only two percent of the respondents who considered suicide reached out to a mental health professional. Sixty-two percent did not reach out to anyone.
Fifty-nine percent of YAFS5 respondents identified the family as the source of major problems.
This toxic brew of problems and lack of emotional outlet lead to more complications, especially on health. Cigarette smoking is prevalent among the youths of Western and Central Visayas.
Drinking alcoholic beverages is also highest among the youths in Central Visayas (48 percent).
Considering that the average age for smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages is 16 years, public and private stakeholders must engage with youths and encourage refocusing on their health at this crucial stage.