Nutrition status of children in Latin America

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: C. Corvalan, University of Chile; M.L Garmendia, University of Chile; J. Jones-Smith, University of Washington; C.K Lutter, Pan American Health Organization; J.J Miranda, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; .LS Pedraza, National Institute of Public Health; B.M Popkin, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; M. Ramirez-Zea, Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama; D. Salvo, National Institute of Public Health; Aryeh Stein, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-07-01
• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 The Authors. Obesity Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of World Obesity
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/obr.12571
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Obesity Reviews
• ISSN: 1467-7881
• Volume: 18
• Start Page: 7
• End Page: 18
• Grant/Funding Information: The ‘Preventing Childhood Overweight and Obesity in Latin America: Linking Evidence to Policy and Practice’ workshop and the publication of its proceedings were supported by the US National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center.
• Keywords: Endocrinology & Metabolism; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES; Science & Technology; OBESITY PREVENTION; PURCHASE LOCATION; childhood obesity; children; SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS; PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY INTERVENTIONS; BUILT ENVIRONMENT; Latin America; SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES; MEXICAN CHILDREN; BODY-WEIGHT; nutrition and physical activity situation; SCHOOL FOOD ENVIRONMENT
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Nutrition; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is rapidly increasing among Latin American children, posing challenges for current healthcare systems and increasing the risk for a wide range of diseases. To understand the factors contributing to childhood obesity in Latin America, this paper reviews the current nutrition status and physical activity situation, the disparities between and within countries and the potential challenges for ensuring adequate nutrition and physical activity. Across the region, children face a dual burden of undernutrition and excess weight. While efforts to address undernutrition have made marked improvements, childhood obesity is on the rise as a result of diets that favour energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle. Over the last decade, changes in socioeconomic conditions, urbanization, retail foods and public transportation have all contributed to childhood obesity in the region. Additional research and research capacity are needed to address this growing epidemic, particularly with respect to designing, implementing and evaluating the impact of evidence-based obesity prevention interventions.