The objectives of this study were to (i) review extant literature on the prevalence of abdominal obesity (AO) in adolescents of both sex (10-19 years old); (ii) analyse the cut-off points used for the diagnosis of AO and (iii) compare its prevalence between developed and developing countries. The search was carried out using online databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, SCIELO and BioMed Central), references cited by retrieved articles and by contact with the authors, considering articles published from the establishment of the databanks until 19 October 2009. Only original articles and those using waist circumference in the diagnosis were considered. Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Fourteen of these studies were performed in developed countries. The prevalence of AO varied from 3.8% to 51.7% in adolescents from developing countries. The range of results was smaller among developed countries; with values from 8.7% to 33.2%. Eighteen different cut-off points were used. It was concluded the AO prevalence is high among adolescents, but is not clear what sex has a higher proportion and it is greater in adolescents from developing countries; however, there is no consensus in the literature about the criteria to be used.

The prevalence of overweight found in this study is approximate to that reported in national studies. Its association with gender and inadequate food intake indicates that these factors should be considered in initiatives aimed at preventive measures in childhood.

Background:The incidence of obesity in children is increasing worldwide, primarily in urbanized, high-income countries, and hypertension development is a detrimental effect of this phenomenon.Objective:In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the prevalence of excess weight and its association with high blood pressure (BP) in schoolchildren.Methods:Here 4,609 male and female children, aged 6 to 11 years, from 24 public and private schools in Maringa, Brazil, were evaluated. Nutritional status was assessed by body mass index (BMI) according to cutoff points adjusted for sex and age. Blood pressure (BP) levels above 90th percentile for gender, age and height percentile were considered elevated.Results:The prevalence of excess weight among the schoolchildren was 24.5%; 16.9% were overweight, and 7.6% were obese. Sex and socioeconomic characteristics were not associated with elevated BP. In all age groups, systolic and diastolic BP correlated with BMI and waist and hip measurements, but not with waist-hip ratio. The prevalence of elevated BP was 11.2% in eutrophic children, 20.6% in overweight children [odds ratio (OR), 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.61-2.45], and 39.7% in obese children (OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 4.23-6.89).Conclusion:Obese and overweight children had a higher prevalence of elevated BP than normal-weight children. Our data confirm that the growing worldwide epidemic of excess weight and elevated BP in schoolchildren may also be ongoing in Brazil.

BackgroundThe prevalence of childhood obesity and associated conditions, such as hypertension, has become a major problem of public health. Although waist circumference (WC) is a marker of cardiovascular risk in adults, it is unclear whether this index is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in children.ObjectiveOur aim was to evaluate the association between increased WC and elevated blood pressure (BP) in children with normal body mass index (BMI) ranges.MethodsCross-sectional evaluation of students between 6 and 11 years with normal BMI. WC was categorized by quartile for each age group. Normal BP was defined as values < 90th percentile, and levels above this range were considered elevated. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsOf the 5,037 children initially assessed, 404 (8%) were excluded for being underweight and 1,216 (24.1%) were excluded for being overweight or obese. A final sample of 3,417 children was evaluated. The prevalence of elevated BP was 10.7%. In children with WC in the lowest quartile, the prevalence of elevated BP was 8.1%. This prevalence increased in upper quartiles: 10.6% in the second, 12.4% in third and 12.1% in the upper quartile. So, in this group, being in the highest WC quartile was associated with a 57% higher likelihood to present elevated BP when compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q4 vs Q1; OR 1.57 - 95%CI 1.14 - 2.17).ConclusionIn children aged 6 to 11 years, increased waist circumference is associated with elevated BP even when BMI is normal.

The article interrelates topics related to hunger, poverty, human rights, nutrition and lack of empowerment of vulnerable citizens. These perspectives within the field of bioethics seek to provoke reflection on human frailty in the face of poverty and hunger. The text discusses the legacies of Josué de Castro, Paulo Freire, John Rawls and Amartya Sen, at a time when the right to food is being dicussed, in view of the ominous dimensions of world hunger. We reflect on the inequitable and unsatisfactory distribution of food, which is a source of life and survival. In defining empowerment as freedom and development of the individual, his collectivity and his relationships, the study indicates that hunger is suffering, and this calls for multidimensional reflection. The eradication of hunger is therefore a task required of all who seek the observance of full citizenship rigths. Keywords: Bioethics. Equity. Human rights. Hunger. Social justice. Poverty. ResumoA fragilidade humana diante da pobreza e da fome O presente artigo busca realizar aproximação entre os temas que guardam relação com a fome, a pobreza, os direitos humanos, a alimentação e a falta de empoderamento dos cidadãos vulnerados. Essas perspectivas assumidas no campo da bioética tentam refletir sobre a fragilidade humana diante da pobreza e da fome. Aborda os legados de Josué de Castro, Paulo Freire, John Rawls e Amartya Sen ao momento em que se discute o direito a alimentação, tendo em vista as dimensões assustadoras da fome no mundo. Busca-se refletir sobre a iniquidade e a insatisfatória distribuição do alimento como fonte de vida e sobrevivência. Ao definir o empoderamento como liberdade e desenvolvimento do indivíduo, do seu coletivo e das suas relações, o estudo sinaliza que a fome é sofrimento que remete à reflexão multidimensional. A erradicação da fome é, portanto, tarefa que se impõe a todos os que buscam o pleno exercício da cidadania. Palavras-chave: Bioética. Direitos humanos. Equidade. Fome. Justiça social. Pobreza. ResumenLa fragilidad humana frente a la pobreza y el hambre El presente artículo busca realizar una aproximación entre los temas del hambre, la pobreza, los derechos humanos, la alimentación y la falta de empoderamiento de los ciudadanos vulnerables. Estos enfoques adoptados en el ámbito de la bioética intentan reflexionar sobre la fragilidad humana frente a la pobreza y el hambre. Se analiza el legado de Josué de Castro, Paulo Freire, John Rawls y Amartya Sen justo en el momento en que debatimos sobre el derecho a la alimentación, teniendo en cuenta las alarmantes dimensions del hambre en el mundo. El artículo busca reflexionar sobre la iniquidad y la mala distribución equitativa de los alimentos como fuente de vida y supervivencia. Al asumir el empoderamiento como libertad y desarrollo de la persona, de su colectivo y de sus relaciones, el estudio indica que el hambre es un sufrimiento que remite a una reflexión multidimensional. La erradicación del hambre es una tarea que se impone a todos los que buscan el pleno ejer...

RESUMOA crise hídrica afeta toda a biodiversidade e dela emergem questões éticas da relação humana com a água e seu impacto nas populações vulneráveis. Este artigo analisa do ponto de vista ético como o meio científico tem abordado a crise hídrica. Analisaram-se produções científicas sobre a crise da água de forma qualitativa pela análise de conteúdo. Identificou-se que o pouco interesse que o meio científico tem em discutir os problemas éticos relacionados à crise hídrica faz com que não se tenha um retrato real de quem são os vulneráveis desse processo. Para superar essa realidade propõe-se a bioética ambiental, com sua metodologia baseada no diálogo interdisciplinar, como a ferramenta capaz de considerar e unir os diferentes interesses sejam humanos ou da natureza, bem como para evidenciar as verdadeiras causas da crise hídrica.Palavras-chave: água, ambiente, ética, gestão, vulnerabilidade. The water crisis in scientific publications: environmental bioethics perspectives ABSTRACTThe water crisis affects biodiversity as a whole and creates ethical issues regarding humanity's relationship with water as well as the impact on vulnerable populations.This article analyzes the ethics of the scientific community's approach to addressing the water crisis. Scientific literature relating to the water crisis was analyzed qualitatively based on its content. It was found that the scientific community's reluctance to discuss the ethical problems related to the water crisis results in a failure to clearly identify those who are vulnerable in this process. In order to overcome this failing, we propose the introduction of environmental bioethics, with methodology based on an interdisciplinary dialogue, in order to analyze and integrate the various human or natural interests as well as to highlight the true causes of the water crisis.

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The protective effect of a whey protein concentrate (WPC) was studied in three models of stomach ulcerative lesions induction: subcutaneous injection of indomethacin, and stress induced by either intraperitoneal injection of reserpine, or immobilization and holding in the cold (4 degrees C, 2 hours). Adult Wistar rats (300-400 g) were used for acute (single-dose), repetitive, or subchronic (10 days) administration of WPC prior to treatment with the ulcerogenic factors. The best protection was achieved in the indomethacin model for repetitive and subchronic experiments, reaching 50.1% and 44%, respectively, inhibition of the ulcerative lesions, which was significant at 1% probability (P <.01). For the immobilization and cold model, maximum inhibition by WPC was 22.1%, and that for the reserpine model was 23.8%. In both models the inhibition was not significant (P >.05) compared with saline (negative control).