Overweight and Obesity in Mexican Scholar Children

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity (OW +O) and to assess its association with some risk factor in a probabilistic sample of Mexican scholars.MethodsInformation from 34,045 children (>6 y) extracted from the Mexican National Health in Publics Schools Survey in Mexico (ENSE‐2008) was included in the analysis. We examined body mass index (BMI) in relation to demographic variables, sweet beverages consumption, and physical activity.ResultsOur results revealed that 1 of every 3 Mexican school children had OW+O (32.3%).The prevalence of overweight and obesity was adjusted by sex, age, region of dwelling (North, Center, South and Mexico City), and consumption of sweet beverages. The prevalence of OW +O was associated with aged children (>10y OR 1.15, p< 0.001); Sex (boys: OR 1.2 p=0.025; consumption of sweet beverages (1.1, p=0.008).ConclusionsOverweight and obesity is becoming a public health problem in Mexico. It should be approached through aggressive interventions targeted to school age children at risk, in order to reduce rapidly the prevalence of overweight and obesity, thus limiting its negative short‐ and long‐term effects on other health outcomes. Supported by the Rio Aronte Foundation, and Fondo de Apoyo al Programa Intersectorial de Educación Saludable.

Diet Outcomes from a Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing a Parenting Intervention Simultaneously Targeting Healthy Eating and Substance Use Prevention among Hispanic Middle-School Adolescents

“…Similarly, NHANES 2011-2014 data indicate that Hispanic children and adolescents (2-19 years) have a lower caloric intake from sugar-sweetened beverages than their non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic Black counterparts, but these beverages still contribute about 7.3% and 6.8% of the daily energy intake for boys and girls, respectively [17]. Furthermore, it has been reported that Hispanic adolescents have a high intake of snacks (>20% of their daily energy intake) [18] and ultra-processed foods (~64% of their daily energy intake) [19], both of which have been associated with obesity among Mexican-origin children [20,21]. All these dietary traits suggest an urgent need for strategies to improve diet and related behaviors in Hispanic adolescents.…”