scholarly journals Nutrition transition in Chile: determinants and consequences

2002 ◽  
Vol 5 (1a) ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Albala ◽  
Fernando Vio ◽  
Juliana Kain ◽  
Ricardo Uauy

AbstractObjectives:The purpose of this study was to analyse the determinants and consequences of the nutrition transition in Chile and describe the related health promotion policies.Design and setting: This is a descriptive, population-based study including data on demographic, diet, nutrition and biomedical related variables. Data came from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the Ministries of Planning, Health and Education surveillance systems, and national surveys.Results:As malnutrition decreased during the 1980s, obesity increased rapidly in all age groups. In adults, currently about 25% of women are obese (body mass index > 30 kgm−2); particularly those from low socio-economic levels. Among pre-schoolers, obesity is now 10% while in 6-year-old children it is 17.5% (weight/height greater than two standard deviations (>2SD) of the World Health Organization reference). Nutritional risk factors are prevalent, diet is changing to a ‘Western diet’ with an increasing fat consumption, and sedentarianism is constant in all groups. High blood pressure (>140/90) is greater than 10% in adults. Diabetes is increasing in urban areas, including in the indigenous population, and more than 40% of adults have a cholesterol level of more than 200mgml−1.Conclusions:Promotion of healthy lifestyles is the main strategy to cope with this situation, particularly changing behaviour in food habits, physical activity and psychosocial factors. Changes in lifestyles will not only allow the prolonged life expectancy to be of better quality, but also will favour a decrease in the morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvaro Quijano-Angarita ◽  
Oscar Espinosa ◽  
Marcela M Mercado-Reyes ◽  
Diana Walteros ◽  
Diana Carolina Malo

Acute Respiratory Infections are among the leading causes of death globally, particularly in developing countries, and are highly correlated with the quality of health and surveillance systems and effective early interventions in high-risk age groups. According to the World Health Organization, about four million people die each year from mostly preventable respiratory tract infections, making it a public health concern. The official declaration of a pandemic in March 2020 due to the Sars-CoV-2 virus coincided with the influenza season in Colombia and with environmental alerts about low air quality that increase its incidence. The objective of this document is the application of a flexible model for the identification of the pattern and monitoring of ARI morbility for Colombia by age group that shows atypical patterns in the reported series for 5 departments and that coincide with the decisions implemented to contain the COVID-19


2005 ◽  
Vol 133 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. PURO ◽  
D. SERRAINO ◽  
P. PISELLI ◽  
E. BOUMIS ◽  
N. PETROSILLO ◽  
...  

Data from AIDS surveillance systems in the World Health Organization European region (1993–2001) were analysed to describe the main epidemiological aspects of recurrent bacterial pneumonia (RBP) as AIDS-defining illness (ADI) in Europe. Among the 153756 AIDS cases analysed, 5796 (3·8%) had RBP. The proportion of RBP was higher (8·3%) in eastern than in western Europe (3·6%), possibly because of a greater propensity of certain countries to diagnose RBP. In western Europe, the proportion of RBP as ADI appeared to increase over time up to 1998 (from 2·5% to 4·5%), and declined thereafter (3·3% in 2001). RBP was strongly associated with intravenous drug use (odds ratio 3·0, 95% CI 2·7–3·3), whereas it did not differ in age groups or geographical areas. The study findings confirm the crucial role of intravenous drug use in the occurrence of RBP and suggest that highly active antiretroviral therapies might have had a postponing impact on the relative frequency of RBP as ADI.


2003 ◽  
Vol 89 (6) ◽  
pp. 827-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joceline Pomerleau ◽  
Karen Lock ◽  
Martin McKee

Although food supply statistics are commonly used in ecological studies of diet and disease, little information is available on how they compare with reported intakes of foods. The objective of the present study was to compare fruit and vegetable availability with estimates of national mean intakes derived from national food consumption surveys. Food availability statistics from the FAO were used. For each country, mean national supply, based on at least 3 years of FAO data, was calculated. National estimates of mean fruit and vegetable intakes were derived from population-based surveys from fifteen countries, gathered for the World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease Study revision for 2000. Extrapolations were made when survey data did not cover all age groups. For each country, the FAO:survey estimate ratio was calculated. This ratio ranged from 0·93 to 2·70 (median value=1·39). Although there was a tendency for FAO data to overestimate intakes (fourteen out of fifteen countries), the degree of overestimation varied greatly among the countries included in this study (5–270 %). As food supply statistics are the only source of information on dietary patterns in most countries of the world, further information on how they reflect food intakes is needed. Obtaining detailed and valid estimates of dietary intakes in more countries around the world will be essential for such comparisons.


Author(s):  
David K. Rono ◽  
Jacob W. Wakhungu

Vegetables are rich sources of vitamins, minerals and fibres. Ingestion of vegetables contaminated with heavy metals is one of the main routes through which heavy metals enter the human body and may cause diseases. In this study we investigated the concentrations of titanium, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium, cobalt and copper in the commonly produced vegetables viz. Brassica sp.,Spinacia oleracea, Amaranthus sp. and Solanum sp. using wastewater in Ruai ward, Nairobi City County, Kenya. Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used to estimate the levels of these metals in vegetables sampled from five plots in the study area. The concentration status for each heavy metal in the samples was compared with the permissible levels for corresponding heavy metals set by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization. Our findings indicated the presence of Ti, Zn, Cr and Cu in all the vegetable samples and their concentrations varied considerably, while Pb, Cd and Co were not detected in most samples. The presence of heavy metals in vegetables was in the order of Pb > Cd > Co > Cu > Cr > Zn > Ti. We concluded that vegetables produced using wastewater had elevated levels of the investigated heavy metals at the time of analysis beyond FAO/ WHO safe limits for corresponding metals in leafy vegetables.


2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsi Haverinen ◽  
Laura Paalanen ◽  
Luigi Palmieri ◽  
Alicia Padron-Monedero ◽  
Isabel Noguer-Zambrano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a public health problem in Europe, affecting all age groups. Several MetS definitions are available. The aim of this study was to compare four different MetS definitions in the Finnish adult population, to assess their agreement and to evaluate the impact of the choice of the definition on the prevalence of MetS. Methods Data from FinHealth 2017, a cross-sectional national population health survey, focusing on adults aged 25 years or older were used in the analysis (n=5687). Measured data on anthropometrics, blood pressure and biomarkers together with questionnaire data were used to classify the participants into the MetS categories according to the four definitions. The definitions chosen for the comparison were those by the World Health Organization (WHO) (1998), National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) (2004), International Diabetes Federation (IDF) (2005), and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) (2009). Results The four MetS definitions resulted in substantially different MetS prevalence: 17.7% by WHO, 33.3% by NCEP-ATP III, 41.5% by IDF, and 43.0% by JIS. Regardless of the definition used, the prevalence of MetS increased with age. The prevalence of the different components varied between the definitions, depending on the different cut-off points adopted. Out of all participants, only 13.6% were identified to have MetS according to all four definitions. Agreement between participants recognised by different MetS definitions, estimated through kappa coefficients, was almost perfect for IDF vs. JIS (0.97), strong for JIS vs. NCEP-ATP III (0.80), moderate for IDF vs. NCEP-ATP III (0.76) and weak for WHO vs. NCEP-ATP III (0.42), WHO vs. IDF (0.41) and WHO vs. JIS (0.40). Conclusions Differences between observed prevalence of MetS in Finnish men and women using different MetS definitions were large. For cross-country comparisons, as well as for trend analyses within a country, it is essential to use the same MetS definition to avoid discrepancies in classification due to differences in used definitions.


Author(s):  
Katarzyna Dereń ◽  
Justyna Wyszyńska ◽  
Serhiy Nyankovskyy ◽  
Olena Nyankovska ◽  
Marta Yatsula ◽  
...  

Overweight and obesity, as well as underweight in children and adolescents, pose a significant public health issue. This study aimed to investigate the secular trend of the incidence of underweight, overweight, and obesity in children from Ukraine in 2013/2014 and 2018/2019. The studies were conducted in randomly selected primary and secondary schools in Ukraine. In total, 13,447 children (6468 boys and 6979 girls) participated in the study in 2013/2014 and 18,144 children (8717 boys and 9427 girls) participated in 2018/2019. Measurements of body weight and height were performed in triplicate. Underweight, overweight, and obesity were diagnosed according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). In the group of girls, a significant difference between 2013/2014 and 2018/2019 measurements was found only among 7-year-olds. The percentage of girls at this age exceeding the body mass index (BMI) norm was lower in the 2018/2019 study. In boys, a significant difference was also found in 7-year-olds, and, as in girls, a lower share of overweight and obesity was found in 2018/2019. But for the ages of 12, 13, and 15, the significant differences had a different character—more overweight or obese boys were found in the 2018/2019 study. The proportion of underweight children was similar for the majority of age groups in both genders and did not differ in a statistically significant way.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hassan Emamian ◽  
Hossein Ebrahimi ◽  
Hassan Hashemi ◽  
Akbar Fotouhi

Abstract Background Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of hypertension in Iranian students, especially in rural areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the daily intake of salt in students and its association with high blood pressure. Methods A random sub-sample was selected from the participants of the second phase of Shahroud schoolchildren eye cohort study and then a random urine sample was tested for sodium, potassium and creatinine. Urine electrolyte esexcretion and daily salt intake were calculated by Tanaka et al.’s formula. Results Among 1455 participants (including 230 participants from rural area and 472 girls), the mean age was 12.9 ± 1.7 year and the mean daily salt intake was 9.7 ± 2.6 g (95% CI 9.5–9.8). The mean salt consumption in rural areas [10.8 (95% CI 10.4–11.2)] was higher than urban areas [9.4 (95% CI 9.3–9.6)], in people with hypertension [10.8 (95% CI 10.3–11.3)] was more than people with normal blood pressure [9.4 (95% CI 9.3–9.6)], and in boys [9.8 (95% CI 9.7–10.0)] was more than girls [9.3 (95% CI 9.1–9.6)]. Higher age, BMI z-score, male sex and rural life, were associated with increased daily salt intake. Increased salt intake was associated with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion Daily salt intake in Iranian adolescents was about 2 times the recommended amount of the World Health Organization, was higher in rural areas and was associated with blood pressure. Reducing salt intake should be considered as an important intervention, especially in rural areas.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick M Burkle ◽  
Christopher M Burkle

AbstractLiberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea lack the public health infrastructure, economic stability, and overall governance to stem the spread of Ebola. Even with robust outside assistance, the epidemiological data have not improved. Vital resource management is haphazard and left to the discretion of individual Ebola treatment units. Only recently has the International Health Regulations (IHR) and World Health Organization (WHO) declared Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, making this crisis their fifth ongoing level 3 emergency. In particular, the WHO has been severely compromised by post-2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) staffing, budget cuts, a weakened IHR treaty, and no unambiguous legal mandate. Population-based triage management under a central authority is indicated to control the transmission and ensure fair and decisive resource allocation across all triage categories. The shared responsibilities critical to global health solutions must be realized and the rightful attention, sustained resources, and properly placed legal authority be assured within the WHO, the IHR, and the vulnerable nations. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-6)


2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan-Fen Wang ◽  
Kam-Tsun Tang ◽  
Wen-Harn Pan ◽  
Justin Ging-Shing Won ◽  
Yao-Te Hsieh ◽  
...  

Background: In 2003, Taiwan’s iodine policy changed from mandatory to voluntary. The Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) 2001-2002 for schoolchildren showed adequate iodine nutrition, while NAHSIT 2005-2008 for adults showed the iodine status was at borderline adequacy. Objective: To investigate the iodine status of the Taiwanese population from schoolchildren to adulthood 10 years after the change of the salt iodization policy. Method: Urinary iodine was measured in samples from subjects in NAHSIT 2013. Results: The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of the Taiwanese population aged 6 years and above in 2013 was 96 μg/L, indicating mild iodine deficiency. The median UIC of 6- to 12-year-old schoolchildren was 124 μg/L (interquartile range [IQR]: 92-213 μg/L), and 115 μg/L (IQR: 80-166 μg/L), 125 μg/L (IQR: 74-161 μg/L), 73 μg/L (IQR: 52-131 μg/L), and 78 μg/L (IQR: 52-132 μg/L) in populations aged 13 to 18 years, 19 to 44 years, 45 to 64 years, and ≥65 years, respectively. Declining iodine nutrition in age groups ≥45 years old was noted that the median UIC of populations aged 45 to 64 years and ≥65 years was 99 and 88 μg/L, respectively, in NAHSIT 2005-2008. The median UIC of schoolchildren was not lower than that during the mandatory salt fortification period, but the distribution of urinary iodine levels signified a dietary pattern change. Conclusion: Wide-ranging variation in iodine nutrition levels was observed in different age groups. Universal salt iodization, as suggested by the World Health Organization, should be the best strategy to achieve adequate iodine nutrition.


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-82
Author(s):  
Sanja Topalovic

Allergic rhinitis and eczema represent ailments which are increasingly linked with urban areas. Although they do not belong to illnesses which are predominantly caused by geographical factors, their importance for the development of these illnesses will be considered in this paper. As an example of the influence of urban environment on the development of these illnesses, the city core of Belgrade (the area included in the General Urban Plan) is taken into consideration. The emphasis is put especially on the quality of air, industry, traffic and the conditions for living. The research is based on tracking these illnesses among children, considering the frequent appearance of these illnesses especially among school children. The survey, whose results were partly presented in this research paper, was an important method for examining the subject matter of this paper. Namely, the above mentioned survey was realized in the International Study of Asthma and Allergy among children (ISAAC), which was conducted by World Health Organization (WHO), 156 centres from 56 countries took part. Among them, there were four centres from Serbia: Belgrade, Nis, Podgorica and Sombor.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document