HCM City's Nutrition Programme for 2013-15 will focus on combatingobesity and non-communicable diseases among primary school students, aconference heard on April 5.
Do Thi Ngoc Diep, director of themunicipal Nutrition Centre, said the ratio of overweight and obesechildren was 38.5 percent last year.
For children under five, theratio was lower at 11 percent, she said, adding that in this age group,the ratios of underweight and stunted children were the lowest in thecountry at 5.3 percent and 7.6 percent.
The overweight and obesityratio among women of reproductive age in the city is also high, jumpingto 35.7 percent last year. Prevalence of diabetes among adults was 7percent.
The city would spend 42.75 billion VND (2 million USD) forits nutrition programme, including prevention of malnutrition, obesity,and iodine and vitamin A deficiencies, she said.
HCM Cityhas the highest rate of overweight and obese children in the country, LeThi Hop, head of the National Institute of Nutrition, said.
Vietnam has more than seven million children aged under five, withunderweight and stunted children accounting for 16.2 percent and 26.7percent.-VNA