Childhood obesity in Latin America and Mexico

Abstract

Due to the increased consumption of high-energy processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages combined with increased sedentary behavior and increasing screentime, the percentage of children and adolescents with overweight or having obesity in Latin America increased from 25% in 2007 to more than 34% in 2021. To inform the development of future health policies, this dissertation consists of three original research studies that examined childhood obesity in Latin America and Mexico. In the first study, a scoping review was conducted to determine to which extent policies included in the 2014 5-year Pan America Health Organization (PAHO) Plan of Action for the Prevention of Obesity in Children and Adolescents, had been implemented and evaluated in 19 Latin America countries. Results indicated that PAHO recommended policies have been implemented to various degrees in Latin America and more research is required to understand the impact of these policies. Using data from the 2012 Mexican Families and Life Survey (MxFLS), the second study explored the time preferences of children’ caregivers as a factor related to childhood overweight or obesity in Mexico. Results showed that children caregivers’ time preferences were associated with children's BMI status and as such, children caregivers’ time preferences should be considered when developing policies to reduce childhood obesity. The last study used the same survey data to document the association between children’s BMI status, medical conditions, health status, and healthcare resource utilization. While the findings showed few associations, several limitations were associated with the survey design and data, and more research is required to understand the burden of obesity in children in Mexico. Overall, these three papers highlight the need for continuous efforts, evaluations, and policies to prevent and address childhood obesity in Mexico and Latin America.