Obesidad en el niño en América Latina: situación, criterios de diagnóstico y desafíos

Abstract

Obesity has emerged as an alarming public health problem, having increased rapidly in both adults and children. Considering 12 countries with reported levels of overweight and obesity, one third have a 20% prevalence of one or both conditions. In 17 countries reporting data on obesity, the mean rate was 4.6%; four countries reported rates over 6%, while three reported less than 2%. The majority of these countries showed increases of 70% in overweight and 60% in obesity during the last decade. Only two countries reported decreasing prevalence rates. Countries may be classified in four groups: (1) low or even downward prevalence of overweight and obesity; (2) underweight reported simultaneously with an increase in obesity; (3) a large territory and population with differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity between regions and socioeconomic groups; and (4) little underweight and high prevalence of obesity. In conclusion, there is no doubt about the increasing trend in overweight and obesity among Latin American children. However, since there is no consensus as to diagnostic criteria for overweight and obesity, the real prevalence is not known.

Malnutrition in indigenous and non-indigenous children under five years of age in rural areas, Paraguay

“…Los niños no indígenas presentaron una prevalencia superior de obesidad a la reportada en niños que acudieron a los servicios públicos de salud del departamento de Caazapá (9% vs 6,7%) (21),probablemente relacionado al elevado consumo de carbohidratos. Con datos de sobrepeso y obesidad en menores de 5 años provenientes de 12 países de América Latina, Amigo refiere que más de un tercio supera el 20% de prevalencia de ambas situaciones, y Paraguay se encuentra en el cuarto lugar con respecto al sobrepeso (24).…”

Intake of soft drinks and sugar sweetened beverages by Colombian children and adolescents

“…2 As a consequence of the stages of transition, excess weight and obesity have increased in all groups. In the National Food Situation Survey (ENSIN-2010), the prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years old was 17.5%.…”

Percentiles de grasa corporal por bioimpedancia eléctrica en niños y adolescentes de Bogotá, Colombia: estudio FUPRECOL

“…[1][2][3] De acuerdo con la última Encuesta de la Situación Nutricional en Colombia, 3 el 5% de los niños menores de cinco años padece de obesidad, el 20% tiene sobrepeso y el 74% no cumple con el mínimo de actividad física recomendada en el grupo de edad de entre los 13 y los 17 años, aunados a la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad (13,4%) en este mismo grupo poblacional. 4,5 En este contexto, la composición corporal y el estado nutricional deben ser aspectos para considerar en el ámbito clínico, por la capacidad para detectar problemas nutricionales desde edades tempranas.…”