Philippine fisherfolks face the paradox of the Double Burden of Malnutrition (DBM), balancing undernutrition and rising rates of overweight. Despite their access to protein-rich resources, economic constraints often prioritize income over nutrition. This study assessed the demographic, socioeconomic characteristics, physical activity, dietary quality, dietary adequacy, and nutritional status of adult fisherfolks in Barangay Bancaan, Naic, Cavite.

Data were gathered using five validated instruments: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) for physical activity, 24-hour food recall for dietary patterns and adequacy, Individual Dietary Diversity Questionnaire (IDDQ) for dietary diversity, and anthropometric measurements for nutritional status. Descriptive analysis and Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient were used for data evaluation. A total of 81 fisherfolks were randomly selected as study respondents.

Larger household sizes (ρ=0.227; p=0.008) and lower educational attainment (ρ=0.108; p=0.034) were significantly associated with higher BMI. Although physical activity levels showed no direct correlation with nutritional status, working >40 hours/week was correlated with higher rates of overweight and obesity (30%). Only 32% met energy requirements, with nutrient inadequacies observed across BMI results. While higher dietary diversity scores were linked to normal and overweight BMI, calcium, iron, and vitamin C deficiencies persisted. Alcohol intake (ρ=0.126; p=0.009) and frequent eating out increased overweight risk, whereas moderate milk and processed meat consumption supported normal BMI and WHR.

Overall, these findings highlighted the increasing prevalence of overweight among fisherfolks as influenced by dietary quality and adequacy. This emphasizes the need for strategies to promote healthier eating habits and lifestyle choices at sea and on land.