Obesity prevalence and trends in Latin‐American countries

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity in some lower-income and transitional countries is as high as, or even higher than, the prevalence reported in developed nations, and it seems to be increasing rapidly. In most countries, the prevalence of obesity is higher in women than in men, and higher in urban than in rural areas. Preobesity prevalence is very high in most Latin-American countries. Sixty per cent of the population in Venado Tuerto (Argentina) has a body mass index (BMI) of > or = 25 kg m-2, as do 35% of the population in Brazil, 60% in Mexico, 68% in Paraguay and 53% in Peru. Trends are available from Brazil, where marked increases in the prevalence of obesity have occurred, except in women from higher-income groups. Women from the higher-income quartiles in urban regions experienced a marked reduction in obesity prevalence from 1989 to 1997 (12.8 to 9.2%). Although data in children is scant, the prevalence of undernutrition is decreasing and the prevalence of obesity is high also in Latin-American children. The prevalence of obesity is high even in minority Indian groups. Rapid changes in dietary structure (in particular associated with urbanization) and major changes in the levels of physical activity, both occupationally and during leisure time, may explain these changes.

Does physical activity equally predict gain in fat mass among obese and nonobese young adults?

“…Recent data from the US, Australia, Latin America and a number of European countries consistently demonstrate that the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing exponentially in all age groups, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] and is now of pandemic proportions. 8 Obesity is multifactorial, involving genetic, 9,10 physiological, 11 social, cultural and environmental components.…”

Female gender and wealth are associated to overweight among adolescents in La Paz, Bolivia

“…In Latin America, the prevalence of undernutrition-related problems is decreasing while the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing, even among native groups (Filozof et al, 2001;Peña and Bacallao, 2001;Kain et al, 2002). In Bolivia, the only available data concerning anthropometry of adolescents are the regular Development and Health Surveys (DHS).…”

Nutritional status of the Andean population of Puna and Quebrada of Humahuaca, Jujuy, Argentina

“…Compared with other studies that identified childhood overweight and obesity using weight-for-height Z-score cut-off points, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children from this population is low in relation to other developing and developed countries and similar to that observed in less developed countries in Latin America 4,[23][24][25] . One study conducted in Argentina reported an obesity prevalence in children aged 24-72 months of 7.03%, ranging from 2.3% to 17.0%.…”

“…One study carried out with South American Indian groups, that defined obesity as BMI .27 kg m -2 , showed an obesity prevalence in rural adult Aymaras living in north Chile (geographically closer to the studied population) of 33%. When the same cut-off was applied to the present adult population, the prevalence of obesity was 31.9% (data not shown) 4,5 .…”

“…Prevalence of overweight (32.3%) and obesity (18.3%) in the adult population was high and similar to that observed in other Latin American countries. Data from previous studies showed a prevalence of overweight of 34.1% in Argentina, 28 4 . One study carried out with South American Indian groups, that defined obesity as BMI .27 kg m -2 , showed an obesity prevalence in rural adult Aymaras living in north Chile (geographically closer to the studied population) of 33%.…”