DRDF conducts the Baseline Survey for the Dual Cohort Prospective Study of Obesity in Metro Manila

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Washington, in partnership with the USC – Office of Population Studies (OPS), is currently conducting a research study entitled the “Dual Cohort Prospective Study of Obesity”, aiming to prospectively follow two cohorts of adults: (1) US-bound Filipino permanent migrants, and (2) Filipino residents living in Metro Manila or Metro Cebu for at least three years. Changes in obesity risk factors, particularly the effects of stress due to migrating in the US, shall be examined and compared between the two cohorts.

For the baseline survey, 800 migrants and 800 non-migrants shall be recruited from both Metro Manila and Metro Cebu regions. From these samples, 420 migrants and 380 non-migrants shall be coming from Metro Manila. Migrants shall be recruited at the Commission for Filipino Overseas (CFO) Office, while the non-migrants shall be coming from selected Metro Manila barangays. Participants are required to be from 20 to 59 years of age to be included in the survey.

For Metro Manila, OPS has sub-contracted the Demographic Research and Development Foundation (DRDF), Inc. to conduct the survey. Data collection had already started last February 2017 and is expected to finish by August of the same year. Areas where non-migrants are currently being recruited include Muntinlupa, Manila, Quezon City, Makati, and Malabon.