Nutritional profile of schoolchildren from different socio-economic levels in Santiago, Chile

Abstract

Objective: To assess the nutritional status, food intake and physical activity patterns in schoolchildren attending 5th and 6th grade in basic schools from different socio-economic levels in the metropolitan region of Santiago. Design: Cross-sectional study in children 5th and 6th grade of eighteen basic schools in the metropolitan region of Santiago. Setting: Boys and girls aged 9-12 years from basic schools were evaluated in terms of physical capacity. An anthropometric evaluation was also performed which included weight, height and triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses. Food intake was evaluated by a 24 h recall, socio-economic level by the ESOMAR method and physical activity by a questionnaire. Subjects: Boys and girls aged 9-12 years (n 1732). Results: The average prevalence of overweight and obesity was 40 %, with the highest prevalence in males and those from lower socio-economic level. A majority (64 %) of the children had a low level of physical activity. A higher intake of fat and protein and a higher intake of carbohydrate were found in the higher and lower socio-economic levels, respectively. Both males and females showed adequacy greater than 75 % in macronutrient intake except for fibre, with both groups showing a deficit in the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish and milk products according to Chilean recommendations. Conclusions: A high prevalence of malnutrition by excess was observed in both sexes and a better eating and physical activity pattern was seen in children from higher socio-economic level.

Birth weight and obesity risk at first grade of high school in a non-concurrent cohort of Chilean children

“…In Chile the same tendency is observed, with an elevated and increasing prevalence of obesity affecting 9?1 % of children aged 2-3 years, increasing to 23 % at the time they start elementary school and reaching 25 % in adulthood (8)(9)(10) . Overall, overweight affects over half of the country's adult population, associated with a high prevalence of metabolic diseases (10,11) .…”

Insulinemia e índice HOMA en niños y adolescentes chilenos

“…Se midió perímetro de cintura (PC) con cinta métrica inextensible, sobre el borde lateral-superior del ilion derecho en línea medio-axilar, al fi nal de una espiración 18 , se promediaron tres mediciones y se usó el valor relativo al promedio de una referencia internacional 19 . Se midieron los pliegues cutáneos tricipital (PTC) y subescapular (PSE) con caliper Harpenden® y téc-nica estándar 18 , con éstos se calculó la masa grasa (%MG) con ecuaciones de Slaughter 20 , validadas y aplicadas en niños chilenos 21,22 . En forma privada se solicitó un auto-reporte voluntario del estado puberal con observación de fotos estandarizadas de desarrollo mamario en niñas y genital en hombres, ambas más vello púbico 23 .…”

The epidemic of obesity publications, award to legend and more

“…For this reason, we have chosen to devote this January 2011 issue solely to papers on this topic. The enclosed papers cover several areas such as monitoring and assessment (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) , determinants (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) , intervention (19) and policy (20) , and originate from studies undertaken all over the world. We could point to the lack of intervention and policy papers as well as capacity building papers; they are still rare pieces for our journal and we certainly would like to see more of them.…”