Objective: Along with other countries having high and low-to-middle income, Mexico has experienced a substantial change in obesity rates. This rapid growth in obesity prevalence has led to high rates of obesity-related diseases and associated health-care costs. Design: Micro-simulation is used to project future BMI trends. Additionally thirteen BMI-related diseases and health-care costs are estimated. The results are simulated for three hypothetical scenarios: no BMI reduction and BMI reductions of 1 % and 5 % across the population. Results: In 2010, 32 % of men and 26 % of women were normal weight. By 2050, the proportion of normal weight will decrease to 12 % and 9 % for males and females respectively, and more people will be obese than overweight. It is projected that by 2050 there will be 12 million cumulative incidence cases of diabetes and 8 million cumulative incidence cases of heart disease alone. For the thirteen diseases considered, costs of $US 806 million are estimated for 2010, projected to increase to $US 1?2 billion and $US 1?7 billion in 2030 and 2050 respectively. A 1 % reduction in BMI prevalence could save $US 43 million in health-care costs in 2030 and $US 85 million in 2050. Conclusions: Obesity rates are leading to a large health and economic burden. The projected numbers are high and Mexico should implement strong action to tackle obesity. Results presented here will be very helpful in planning and implementing policy interventions.

Context-Latinos are the largest and fastest-growing ethnically diverse group in the U.S.; they are also the most overweight. Mexico is now second to the U.S. in experiencing the worst epidemic of obesity in the world. Objectives of this study were to (1) conduct a systematic review of obesity-related interventions targeting Latinos living in the U.S. and Latin America and (2) develop evidence-based recommendations to inform culturally relevant strategies targeting obesity.Evidence acquisition-Obesity-related interventions, published between 1965 and 2010, were identified through searches of major electronic databases in 2010-2011. Selection criteria included evaluation of obesity-related measures; intervention conducted in a community setting; and at least 50.0% Latino/Latin American participants, or with stratified results by race/ethnicity.Evidence synthesis-Body of evidence was based on the number of available studies, study design, execution, and effect size. Of 19,758 articles, 105 interventions met final inclusion criteria. Interventions promoting physical activity and/or healthy eating had strong or sufficient evidence for recommending (1) school-based interventions in the U.S. and Latin America; (2) interventions for overweight or obese children in the healthcare context in Latin America; (3) individual-based interventions for overweight or obese adults in the U.S.; (4) individual-based interventions for adults in Latin America; and (5) healthcare-based interventions for overweight or obese adults in Latin America.Conclusions-Most intervention approaches combined physical activity and healthy eating to address both sides of the energy-balance equation. Results can help guide comprehensive evidence-based efforts to tackle the obesity epidemic in the U.S. and Latin America. ContextFor 3 decades, the worldwide obesity epidemic has continued to gain momentum. 1 The U.S. has led in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Populations of low-to middle-income countries (LMICs) historically evidenced fewer noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and Address correspondence to: John P. Elder, PhD, MPH, Institute for Behavioral and Community Health (IBACH), San Diego State University, 9245 Sky Park Court, Suite 221, San Diego CA 92123. jelder@projects.sdsu.edu. No financial disclosures were reported by the authors of this paper.Supplementary data A pubcast created by the authors of this paper can be viewed at www.ajpmonline.org/content/video_pubcasts_collection. HHS Public Access Author Manuscript Author ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript Author Manuscript their risk factors, suffering instead from communicable diseases and other "diseases of poverty." Nevertheless, LMICs are experiencing accelerated nutrition-related and epidemiologic transitions linked to higher rates of NCDs. 2,3 Close to 80% of the 35 million annual deaths attributable to chronic diseases worldwide occur in LMICs. Overweight and obesity comprise the fifth-leading cause of all deaths, with more than 3 million annual deaths attributed to it. 4 In the...

Comparability of population surveys across countries is key to appraising trends in population health. Achieving this requires deep understanding of the methods used in these surveys to examine the extent to which the measurements are comparable. In this study, we obtained detailed protocols of 8 nationally representative surveys from 2007-2013 from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the United Kingdom (England and Scotland), and the United States-countries that that differ in economic and inequity indicators. Data were collected on sampling frame, sample selection procedures, recruitment, data collection methods, content of interview and examination modules, and measurement protocols. We also assessed their adherence to the World Health Organization's "STEPwise Approach to Surveillance" framework for population health surveys. The surveys, which included half a million participants, were highly comparable on sampling methodology, survey questions, and anthropometric measurements. Heterogeneity was found for physical activity questionnaires and biological samples collection. The common age range included by the surveys was adults aged 18-64 years. The methods used in these surveys were similar enough to enable comparative analyses of the data across the 7 countries. This comparability is crucial in assessing and comparing national and subgroup population health, and to assisting the transfer of research and policy knowledge across countries.

This review is the first to gather evidence-based research systematically aimed at obesity-related interventions in the school setting that are specifically focused on Latino children. Results of the review are promising and timely, given the exigency of the needed evidence, and the current state of childhood obesity in the United States.

Background High rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) are found in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Nicaragua. This study investigated HIV, STI, and risk behaviours in MSM. Methods From 9/2009 to 2/2010, MSM 18 years or older who gave written informed consent and reported having anal sex with a man in the last year were recruited using respondent-driven sampling in Managua. The survey process included audio computer assisted survey instruments (ACASI) and face-to-face interviews followed by STI counselling and specimen collection for HIV (Uni-Gold RecombigenÒ, DetermineÒ, HIV Elisa and Western Blot), HSV-2 (Elisa IgG FocusÒ Technology, Inc), and syphilis testing (RPR/ TPPA). Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas were tested by PCR. The BED IgG capture enzyme immunoassay was applied to HIV positive specimens to detect recently-acquired HIV infections, used to estimate HIV incidence. Population proportions and 95% CIs were calculated and adjusted for RDS-sampling weights. Incidence estimates were adjusted using a locally-established false-recent rate for the assay. Data analyses were conducted in STATA 9.0 and RDSAT 6.1. Results Respondents self-identified as bisexual (50%), gay (41%), heterosexual (1%) or transgender (8%). In the last year, 34.5% had one or more stable partner and 66% had occasional partners. Sex with women during lifetime was reported by 66% and 40% in the last year. Consistent condom use (last 30 days) was reported at 31% with stable male partner, 12%, with stable female partner, 38% with occasional partner, and 38% with clients. Condom use in last sex was 62%. Overall, 36% had received peer-driven outreach for HIV prevention and 64% had been tested for HIV in the last year. HIV prevalence in Managua was determined to be 7.5% (CI 4.5% to 11%), incidence 2.9% (CI 0.2% to 5.6%). Herpes simplex 2 was the most prevalent STI at 39.9% (CI 34.4% to 46%) see Abstract P1-S2.55 Table 1. Conclusions The 2003 Multicentric Study found a similar prevalence in Managua among MSM at 9.4% (CI 5.3% to 14.8%). Condom use is low with all types of partners, but lowest with female partners. The population's high HIV incidence, coupled with low access to education, underlines the urgency of enhancing prevention activities among this population. Stronger strategies are needed to ensure that prevention, care, and treatment interventions reach this population. Methods In a retrospective study we analysed the laboratory data of 16 HCV positive/HIV positive MSM (cases), HCV diagnosis in 2010, and 32 HCV negative/HIV positive MSM (controls), followed at the HIV/ STI clinic in Antwerp, Belgium. All laboratory confirmed STI episodes (syphilis, gonorrhoea, lymphogranuloma venereum, and rectal and urethral non-LGV chlamydial infections) were recorded since the date of presentation at our clinic, until the date of HCV diagnosis of the cases. Controls were selected from consecutive patients that consulted on the same day. Both cases and controls were regularly followed up at the clinic in...