Are research priorities in Latin America in line with the nutritional problems of the population? (original) (raw)
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Improving nutrition in Mexico: the use of research for decision making
Nutrition Reviews, 2009
This article addresses "research with a mission in nutrition"and begins by defining it as the development of an investigative effort aimed at improving the nutritional conditions of the population through application of the scientific method. A brief description is presented of the application of this principle for developing a research agenda to address malnutrition in Mexico. This framework uses scientific evidence as the basis for decision-making in public nutrition. Factors analyzed include the conditions of nutrition and health in the population and the organized social response (policies, programs, and actions) for preventing and controlling those conditions. The results yield a framework that has proved to be useful for the definition of "research with a mission."
Malnutrition and poor diet are the largest risk factors responsible for the global burden of disease. Therefore, ending all forms of malnutrition by 2030 is a global priority. To achieve this goal, a key element is to design and implement nutrition policies based on the best available scientific evidence. The demand for evidence-based nutrition policies may originate directly from policymakers or through social actors. In both cases, the role of research institutions is to generate relevant evidence for public policy. The two key objects of analysis for the design of an effective policy are the nutrition conditions of the population and the policies and programs available, including the identification of delivery platforms and competencies required by personnel in charge of the provision of services (social response). In addition, systematic literature reviews about risk factors of malnutrition, as well as the efficacy and effectiveness of policy actions, lead to evidence-based policy recommendations. Given the multifactorial nature of malnutrition, the drivers and risk factors operate in several sectors (food and agriculture, health, education, and social development) and may be immediate, underlying or basic causes. This multilevel complexity should be considered when developing nutrition policy. In this article, we show two models for the evidence-based design of nutrition policies and programs that may be useful to academia and decision makers demonstrated by two examples of policy design, implementation and evaluation in Mexico.
Proposal and Actions to Decrease Malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean
Food and Nutrition Bulletin
While some of our countries are still facing nutrition deficiencies (stunting/short stature and micronutrient deficiencies), overweight and obesity are increasing in an alarming way. In addition, a very limited research network and lack of funding make it extremely challenging to foster collaborative efforts to address the complex nutritional problems that Latin America is facing. Therefore, as the future leaders in nutrition, we reinforce our commitment to improve our research capacity to identify opportunities for action to end malnutrition in all its forms in our region to address health disparities and to strengthen the Latin American Society of Nutrition.
The challenge of improving food and nutrition in Latin America
Food and nutrition bulletin, 2004
The Latin American Region has exhibited a marked increase in the consumption of high-energy-density foods (high in fats and sugars) and a decrease in physical activity, with rising trends of sedentary life among the urban population. Social and economic progress led to a decline in infectious diseases, while higher income fostered the consumption of meats, fats and oils, and sugar and reduced the consumption of grains and legumes. The result has been a gradual increase in life expectancy at birth and a greater burden of disease linked to obesity and other nutrition-related chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and osteoporosis). The region is currently facing the challenge of a double disease burden--the unresolved problem of malnutrition caused by nutritional deficits on the one hand, and the steady increase in chronic disease on the other. The need to develop policies and programs that make the healthy choice the easy choice in terms of diet ...
Nutrition status of children in Latin America
Obesity Reviews, 2017
The prevalence of overweight and obesity is rapidly increasing among Latin American children, posing challenges for current healthcare systems and increasing the risk for a wide range of diseases. To understand the factors contributing to childhood obesity in Latin America, this paper reviews the current nutrition status and physical activity situation, the disparities between and within countries and the potential challenges for ensuring adequate nutrition and physical activity. Across the region, children face a dual burden of undernutrition and excess weight. While efforts to address undernutrition have made marked improvements, childhood obesity is on the rise as a result of diets that favour energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle. Over the last decade, changes in socioeconomic conditions, urbanization, retail foods and public transportation have all contributed to childhood obesity in the region. Additional research and research capacity are needed to address this growing epidemic, particularly with respect to designing, implementing and evaluating the impact of evidence-based obesity prevention interventions.
Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública
This report examines the challenges of conducting a multicenter, cross-sectional study of countries with diverse cultures, and shares the lessons learned. The Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS) was used as a feasibility study involving the most populous cities of eight countries in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela) in 2014–2015, about 40% of the population of the Americas. The target sample included 9 000 individuals, 15–65 years of age, and was stratified by geographic location (only urban areas), gender, age, and socioeconomic status. Six principal challenges were identified: team structuring and site selections; developing a single protocol; obtaining ethic approvals; completing simultaneous fieldwork; ensuring data quality; and extracting data and maintaining consistency across databases. Lessons learned show that harmonization, pilot study, uniformity of procedures, high data quality control, and commu...
Mapping of nutrition and sectoral policies addressing malnutrition in Latin America
Revista panamericana de salud publica = Pan American journal of public health, 2016
To map existing policies addressing malnutrition in all its forms in Latin America and identify gaps in enabling environments supporting the five priority lines of action outlined in the World Health Organization Comprehensive Implementation Plan on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (CIP) approved in 2014. This descriptive study consisted of a systematic Internet search for and mapping of publicly available nutrition-related and sectoral policies already in place to address malnutrition in all its forms in 18 Latin American countries (Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). The policies were described in documents retrieved from the websites of ministries of health, education, agriculture, labor, and development; the national congress; and other government agencies. All 18 countries had relevant policies to address malnutrition, es...
Treatment and prevention of malnutrition in Latin America: focus on Chile and Bolivia
Food and nutrition bulletin, 2014
Seven million children under 5 years of age died worldwide in 2011, and one-third had malnutrition. Latin America and Caribbean countries stand out for the notable improvement of their health and nutrition situation, particularly in pregnant women and young children. Nutrition-sensitive interventions such as promoting food security, women's empowerment, social safety nets, clean water, and sanitation, among others, are critical for success. In Bolivia, the program Desnutrición Cero (Malnutrition Zero) was able to reduce mortality from severe malnutrition after 5 years from 25% to less than 5%, based on widespread implementation of the World Health Organization 10-steps protocol for hospitalized care and the application of community management. The Economic Commission for Latin America estimated the cost of malnutrition for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and the Dominican Republic as US $6,658 million. Approximately 1 million children have droppe...
Salud Pública de México, 2003
Objective. This article presents and overview of the main results and conclusions from the Mexican National Nutrition Survey 1999 (NNS-1999) and the principal nutrition policy implications of the findings. Material and Methods. The NNS-1999 was conducted on a national probabilistic sample of almost 18 000 households, representative of the national, regional, as well as urban and rural levels in Mexico. Subjects included were children <12 years and women 12-49 years. Anthropometry, blood specimens, diet and socioeconomic information of the family were collected. Results. The principal public nutrition problems are stunting in children < 5 years of age; anemia, iron and zinc deficiency, and low serum vitamin C concentrations at all ages; and vitamin A deficiency in children. Undernutrition (stunting and micronutrient deficiencies) was generally more prevalent in the lower socioeconomic groups, in rural areas, in the south and in Indigenous population. Overweight and obesity are serious public health problems in women and are already a concern in school-age children. Conclusions. A number of programs aimed at preventing undernutrition are currently in progress; several of them were designed or modified as a result of the NNS-1999 findings. Most of them have an evaluation component that will inform adjustments or modifications of their design and implementation. However, little is being done for the prevention and control of overweight and obesity and there is limited experience on effective interventions. The design and evaluation of prevention strategies for controlling obesity in the population, based on existing evidence, is ur-Rivera JA, Sepúlveda-Amor J. Conclusiones de la Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición 1999: traduciendo resultados a política nutricional. Salud Publica Mex 2003;45 supl 4:S565-S575. El texto completo en inglés de este artículo también está disponible en: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html S567
Introduction to the double burden of undernutrition and excess weight in Latin America
The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2014
, aimed at documenting the coexistence of undernutrition and obesity at the individual, household, and country levels and the degree to which nutrition programs and policies take into account the double burden within their scope and objectives in 11 Latin American countries. The participants presented results from Argentina,