The Philippines is grappling with a "double burden of malnutrition," simultaneously battling persistent undernutrition and a sharp rise in obesity, according to the country's Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). The agency's 2025 nutrition survey found adult obesity and overweight prevalence at a record high of 43.1%, meaning roughly two in five Filipino adults are obese, while overnutrition among adolescents has surged by 218% since 2003. Officials attribute the trend to urbanisation, the spread of fast food culture, sedentary lifestyles driven by remote work and excessive screen time, and a shift away from home-cooked meals toward salty, sweet, or greasy convenience foods.