P-Noy, Kris to lead healthy lifestyle event today

Manila, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) will lead a major fitness event in Quezon City today to drum up its advocacies for a healthy lifestyle.

President Aquino will lead the event with his sister, television host Kris Aquino, plus government officials and celebrities from the entertainment industry.

Dr. Ernie de Vera, DOH program manager for Degenerative Disease, said the event was conceptualized to underscore the need for everyone to regularly exercise and practice a healthy diet to prevent diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, among others.

De Vera noted the routines to be featured during the event could easily be adopted in one’s everyday life.

Dubbed “Ehersisyo Pangkalusugan Para sa Lahat sa 2011,” the program runs from at 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and will include jogging, walking, biking, volleyball, badminton, tai chi and aerobics for children.

Participants in the exercise regimen should be at the Quezon City Memorial Circle by 5:30 a.m. while those joining the 8-kilometer bike ride should assemble at the Sandiganbayan building at 5:30 a.m.

Those who want to take part in the 3-kilometer jog/walk will have to be at the open parking area of North Avenue-Trinoma at 5:30 a.m.

The DOH will also set up booths where information materials on the existing programs of the agency will be available for the public.

According to DOH Secretary Enrique Ona, lifestyle-related diseases could be avoided by “eliminating shared risk factors like physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol.”

“As a response to this growing challenge, the DOH is implementing an integrated approach to reduce mortality, morbidity, and disability from non-communicable diseases through promotion of a healthy lifestyle with focus on addressing the common risk factors leading to these diseases,” Ona added.