Between “Kain ka pa” and “Tumaba ka,” taking care of yourself can get confusing.
“Kain ka pa.” Then, at the next family gathering: “Parang tumaba ka?”
It’s quite exhausting to get both comments from the same people. You’re supposed to enjoy the food, accept the extra serving, and stay exactly the same size? Add a feed full of weight-loss transformations, and it’s easy to start feeling like your body needs fixing. Preferably before the next birthday, trip, or holiday reunion.
At Marie France’s Go Lose Pounds launch at The Peninsula Manila, we heard about the parts that rarely make it into a transformation post, like losing weight and gaining it back, struggling with changes in your body, and wanting enough energy for the life you’re planning.
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Marie France puts the weight conversation beyond willpower
Weight deserves a serious conversation in the Philippines. But we could use less unsolicited advice at the dinner table.
The DOST–Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s 2025 Updating Survey, released in 2026, found that 44.5% of Filipino adults aged 20 to 59 had obesity, using Asia-Pacific weight classifications. That’s roughly four in ten adults, up from 39.8% in 2023. Still, you can’t tell what help someone needs just by looking at them across the table.
During the event, endocrinologist Dr. Erick Mendoza explained why “Bawasan mo kasi ang kain” doesn’t cover the whole story. Genetics, hormones, sleep, stress, medications, and underlying conditions can all affect weight. For someone juggling long commutes, late workdays, and family responsibilities, a plan also has to fit into an already full day.
Marie France’s Go Lose Pounds program brings those concerns into a medically supervised approach. According to the clinic, it starts with a consultation to assess your health and determine what’s appropriate for you. Depending on your needs, it may include nutrition guidance, body composition monitoring, prescription treatment for qualified individuals, and complementary body treatments, with support from its multidisciplinary team.
Sometimes, the goal is keeping up with your future grandkids
Theater actress Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante spoke about the frustration of losing weight and gaining it back. She shared that she now feels lighter and stronger, and has started running despite not considering herself a fan of physical activity.
Her longer-term goal was personal, she wants to enjoy an active life with future grandchildren. Host and entrepreneur Gino Quillamor shared a similar hope, alongside his own experience of repeatedly losing and regaining weight.
These were individual experiences shared at a brand event, and results will vary. But their reasons for seeking help were easy to relate to. You want to enjoy a trip, carry your bags, or join a family activity without wondering whether you can manage it.
Making time for yourself can take some planning
Recording artist and host Ira Schadewald spoke about training for her first marathon and taking better care of herself after years of raising children. Her goals included getting stronger and supporting her recovery as she trained.
Even without a marathon on the calendar, finding room for yourself can be difficult. Work runs late. Someone needs picking up. You finally have a free hour, and all you want to do is rest.
This is where it helps to be honest during a consultation. What does your usual day look like? What meals do you actually eat? How much time can you give to appointments or exercise? A routine needs to make sense when you’re back home, too.
Marie France’s program combines medical guidance, nutrition support, and ongoing monitoring. For clients, those appointments offer a chance to raise concerns and discuss whether the plan still suits their needs as their routines change.
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Get clear about what your own body needs
You should be able to discuss it without embarrassment, and without feeling that you have to try whatever worked for a friend. Marie France says its Go Lose Pounds program begins with an assessment rather than the same treatment for every client. Prescription treatment, for example, is an option for qualified individuals, subject to medical evaluation.
Use that consultation to ask questions. Which parts of the program do you need, and why? What are the possible risks or side effects? What will the full plan cost? How will the team monitor your progress, and what support will you need over time?
The stories at the launch offered plenty of reasons to seek that guidance, like wanting to break a frustrating cycle, making time for yourself, or staying active as you grow older. Those goals deserve more thought than a passing comment about your waistline. And at the next reunion, “It’s so good to see you” is still a perfectly good greeting.
