TY - JOUR
T1 - Obesity-promoting factors in Mexican children and adolescents
T2 - challenges and opportunities
AU - Aceves Martins, Magaly
AU - Llauradó, Elisabet
AU - Tarro, Lucia
AU - Solà, Rosa
AU - Giralt, Montse
N1 - MAM is the recipient of a fellowship award from the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologı´a). This study was supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya [2014 SGR 873; NFOC-SALUT: Grup de Recerca en Nutricio´ Funcional, Oxidacio´ i Malaltia Cardiovascular (Generalitat de Catalunya 20142016)].
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - BACKGROUND:
Mexico is a developing country with one of the highest youth obesity rates worldwide; >34% of children and adolescents between 5 and 19 years of age are overweight or obese.
OBJECTIVES:
The current review seeks to compile, describe, and analyze dietary conditions, physical activity, socioeconomic status, and cultural factors that create and exacerbate an obesogenic environment among Mexican youth.
DESIGN:
A narrative review was performed using PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases, as well as grey literature data from the Mexican government, academics, and statistical reports from nongovernmental organizations, included in electronic formats.
RESULTS:
The recent socioeconomic and nutritional transition has resulted in reduced healthy meal options at public schools, high rates of sedentary lifestyles among adolescents, lack of open spaces and playgrounds, socioeconomic deprivation, false or misunderstood sociocultural traditional beliefs, misconceptions about health, a high percentage of overweight or obese adults, and low rates of maternal breastfeeding. Some of the factors identified are exacerbating the obesity problem in this population. Current evidence also shows that more policies and health programs are needed for prevention of childhood and adolescent obesity. Mexico presents alarming obesity levels, which need to be curtailed and urgently reversed.
CONCLUSIONS:
The present narrative review presents an overview of dietary, physical activity, societal and cultural preconceptions that are potentially modifiable obesity-promoting factors in Mexican youth. Measures to control these factors need to be implemented in all similar developing countries by governments, policy makers, stakeholders, and health care professionals to tackle obesity in children and young people.
AB - BACKGROUND:
Mexico is a developing country with one of the highest youth obesity rates worldwide; >34% of children and adolescents between 5 and 19 years of age are overweight or obese.
OBJECTIVES:
The current review seeks to compile, describe, and analyze dietary conditions, physical activity, socioeconomic status, and cultural factors that create and exacerbate an obesogenic environment among Mexican youth.
DESIGN:
A narrative review was performed using PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases, as well as grey literature data from the Mexican government, academics, and statistical reports from nongovernmental organizations, included in electronic formats.
RESULTS:
The recent socioeconomic and nutritional transition has resulted in reduced healthy meal options at public schools, high rates of sedentary lifestyles among adolescents, lack of open spaces and playgrounds, socioeconomic deprivation, false or misunderstood sociocultural traditional beliefs, misconceptions about health, a high percentage of overweight or obese adults, and low rates of maternal breastfeeding. Some of the factors identified are exacerbating the obesity problem in this population. Current evidence also shows that more policies and health programs are needed for prevention of childhood and adolescent obesity. Mexico presents alarming obesity levels, which need to be curtailed and urgently reversed.
CONCLUSIONS:
The present narrative review presents an overview of dietary, physical activity, societal and cultural preconceptions that are potentially modifiable obesity-promoting factors in Mexican youth. Measures to control these factors need to be implemented in all similar developing countries by governments, policy makers, stakeholders, and health care professionals to tackle obesity in children and young people.
KW - health determinants
KW - developing countries
KW - childhood obesity
KW - health and environmental change
U2 - 10.3402/gha.v9.29625
DO - 10.3402/gha.v9.29625
M3 - Article
VL - 9
JO - Global Health Action
JF - Global Health Action
SN - 1654-9716
IS - 1
M1 - 29625
ER -