Overweight and obesity: a review of their relationship to metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in South America

Abstract

Socioeconomic and demographic transformations are occurring very rapidly in some areas of the world, especially in South America, and are accompanied by changes in lifestyle, dietary patterns, and the epidemiological profile of prevalent diseases. This review examines whether obesity and overweight are related to metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in South America. Research carried out in more than 6,000 cases and controls was evaluated, along with most of the available publications related to South America. In South America, obesity and risk factors for cardiovascular disease are related mainly to aging, ethnicity effects, and preventable risky lifestyle conditions. Most of the studies that found an association between cancer and obesity are from the Southern Cone, the geographic area most affected by this pathology. Overall, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was highest in Chile, followed in decreasing order by Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and Ecuador, with differences noted between urban and rural areas or between urban and periurban areas. Obesity and cancer may be preventable, at least in part, by healthy behavior; hence, exercise, weight control, and healthy dietary habits are important to reduce the risk of these major chronic diseases.

Obesity and psychiatric disorders: Commonalities in dysregulated biological pathways and their implications for treatment

“…e Silva, 2006, Kalucy et al, 2013, Krystal et al, 2008, Leger et al, 2000, and both obesity and psychiatric disorders are associated with a greater prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (Stanley and Laugharne, 2012), metabolic disorders , Rotella and Mannucci, 2013, Yau et al, 2012 and autoimmune conditions (Aballay et al, 2013). Early life trauma, including sexual and physical abuse, has also been identified as a risk factor for the development of obesity (Boynton-Jarrett et al, 2012, D'Argenio et al, 2009, Gunstad et al, 2006 and psychiatric disorders (Breslau, 2002, Chou, 2012.…”

Physical Inactivity among Danish and Colombian Adolescents with Lower Level of Family Affluence

“…Worldwide it has been stated that an important amount of overweight and obesity could be avoided through physical activity (PA) and improved dietary behaviour (Gruber & Haldeman, 2009;Hardy, King, Espinel, Cosgrove, & Bauman, 2010;Lawman & Wilson, 2012;Aballay, Eynard, Díaz, Navarro, & Muñoz, 2013, World Health Organization [WHO], 2014. Nevertheless, young people commonly remain physically inactive and spend the majority of their discretionary time engaging in sedentary pursuits Laws, Bonfiglioli, Hardy, & King, 2013;Colley, Garriguet, Janssen, Craig, Clarke, & Tremblay, 2011;Hamrani, Mehdad, El Kari, El Hamdouchi, El Menchawy, Belghiti, El Mzibri, Musaiger, Al-Hazzaa, Hill, Mokhtar, & Aguenaou, 2015).…”

Rohitukine inhibits in vitro adipogenesis arresting mitotic clonal expansion and improves dyslipidemia in vivo

“…Many natural compounds like EGCG, genistein, and kaempferol, which show antiadipogenic potential, have also been found to be anticancer agents (21)(22)(23). Recently, there have been reports that establish an association between obesity and cancer (24)(25)(26). The phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/ mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway is the key signaling pathway that links both obesity and cancer.…”