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Background: Surveillance of childhood obesity is essential to guide preventive policies and interventions.Aim: To analyse trends in overweight and obesity by socioeconomic status (SES) in Argentinian schoolchildren during the last decade.Subjects and methods: Two cross-sectional studies in schoolchildren aged 6-12 years were compared. The first study was conducted in 2005/07 (n = 1418) and the second one in 2015/16 (n = 1366). Overweight and obesity were estimated by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-offs. The type of school (public/private) and parental education level were used as measures of SES. Data were analysed by linear and logistic regression with survey year, type of school, parental education level, and sex as independent variables.Results: From 2005 to 2016 overweight and obesity increased by 7.3% and 5.0%, respectively. The change was significantly higher in boys (9.6% and 8.3%) and girls (9.6% and 5.4%) from public schools, and in children whose fathers had low (10% and 8.3%) and middle (9.0% and 5.5%) education levels. No significant changes were found in children attending private school or those whose fathers had a higher education level.Conclusions: Obesity is still increasing in this population. SES disparities are strongly associated with this trend, with stabilisation in children from high SES.

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RESUMEN El objetivo de este artículo es describir el estado nutricional y los patrones de alimentación de niños de 1 a 3 años de familias de bajos recursos, que residen en dos áreas con diferentes actividades productivas: producción primaria y de bienes y servicios. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, con metodología cuali-cuantitativa; se evaluó el estado nutricional antropométrico y bioquímico, ingesta alimentaria, características económicas y sociodemográficas, prácticas alimentarias y representaciones. Los resultados muestran que los niños del área de producción primaria presentaron menor prevalencia de anemia y deficiencia de hierro. Asimismo tuvieron un consumo superior de energía, calcio, zinc, vitamina A y proteínas y una mayor diversidad y calidad en el consumo de alimentos. Podemos concluir que el contexto geográfico de las familias que residen cerca de fuentes de producción primaria favorecería la interacción con individuos ajenos a la familia, ampliando la red social informal y el acceso a alimentos de mejor calidad nutricional.

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to describe the nutritional status and eating patterns of children aged 1-3 years from low-income families who reside in areas with different productive activities: primary production and production of goods and services. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with a qualitative and quantitative methodology, evaluating anthropometric and biochemical nutritional status, food intake, economic and demographic characteristics, dietary practices and representations. The results show that children from areas of primary production had a lower prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency. They also had a higher consumption of energy, calcium, zinc, vitamin A and protein and a greater diversity and quality in food consumption. We can conclude that the geographical context of families closer to sources of primary production favors interaction with individuals outside of the family, expanding both the informal social network and access to better quality nutritional food.

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We present the results of the first stage of the Program for the Control of Intestinal Parasitosis and Nutrition, analyzing the frequency of anemia and its relation with intestinal parasitic infections and socio-cultural and environmental factors present in school children from a semirural community of Argentina. A total of 123 children aged 4-8 years were interviewed; 93 (75.6%) of them showed up for blood extraction and a fecal sample was taken properly. The frequency of anemia was 33.3%; 45.0% in children aged 4-5 years and 24.5% in those aged 6-8 years (p=0.038). Intestinal parasites were found in 83.9% of the children; 75.0% in children aged 4-5 years and 90.6% in those aged 6-8 years (p=0.043). No statistical differences were found when relating parasitic infections, social/cultural variables and housing characteristic with anemia, probably of nutritional origin. This study reveals the coexistence of anemia and parasitic infections in apparently healthy children who were unnoticed by the conventional public health system.

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BACKGROUND: Studies in several countries comparing the performance of WHO references and their own national growth standards reported differences that could affect screening and growth monitoring. AIM: To estimate weight and height centiles on a sample of Argentinian children and adolescents and compare selected centiles with WHO and national growth references. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional school survey was conducted on 6239 boys and girls aged 5-18. Data were collected between 2005-2009 in Santa Rosa, Argentina. Smoothed weight and height centiles were estimated by the LMS method and compared with WHO 2007 and Argentinian (ARG) growth references. RESULTS: Weight centiles were higher than those of WHO and ARG. Height centiles were above the ARG and below the WHO ones. The greatest differences with ARG were seen before puberty and then declined up to age 18. In contrast, differences with WHO increased from puberty onwards. CONCLUSION: Compared with the ARG reference, linear growth of these schoolchildren shows a secular acceleration without substantial improvements in the adult height. In relation to WHO, the results suggest that around the adolescent growth spurt differences in linear growth between populations became larger, limiting the clinical usefulness of international growth references in adolescents.

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The aim of this article is to describe the nutritional status and eating patterns of children aged 1-3 years from low-income families who reside in areas with different productive activities: primary production and production of goods and services. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with a qualitative and quantitative methodology, evaluating anthropometric and biochemical nutritional status, food intake, economic and demographic characteristics, dietary practices and representations. The results show that children from areas of primary production had a lower prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency. They also had a higher consumption of energy, calcium, zinc, vitamin A and protein and a greater diversity and quality in food consumption. We can conclude that the geographical context of families closer to sources of primary production favors interaction with individuals outside of the family, expanding both the informal social network and access to better quality nutritional food.

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Prenatal lead exposure is a health hazard that may cause cognitive development impairments and other adverse effects in children. We conducted a cross sectional study analyzing cord blood lead levels (CBLL) of newborns and their relationship with maternal determinants of lead exposure. Mothers answered a questionnaire about socio-demographic, lifestyle habits and environmental characteristics. We used Mann-Whitney's test to compare CBLL geometrical means (GM) corresponding to the presence or absence of each lead exposure determinant, and Chi square test to study the relationship between CBLL and maternal lead exposure determinants. A total of 159 newborns participated in the study. CBLL GM was 2.1 µg/dL; and 25% of the participants had a measurable CBLL (LOQ=3.3 µg/dl). Although the participants had several determinants of lead exposure, we only found a significant relationship with inside household determinants, such as presence of lead piping (p=0.026), unplastered walls (p=0.046) and peeling paint (p=0.048). Our results show that CBLL GM was similar to that reported in several studies conducted around the world. However, 25% of the participants might have some degree of risk for lead poisoning.

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UNLABELLED: The Program for the Control of Intestinal Parasites and Nutrition was designed to intervene in small communities to prevent and control the effects of parasitic infections on children's health. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between nutritional status and parasitic infection in suburban and rural children from Buenos Aires, Argentina. METHODS: Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric (weight, height, BMI, skinfolds, upper arm circumference, muscle, and fat upper arm areas) and biochemical (Hb, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu) indicators. Parasitological analysis were made on both serial stool and perianal swab samples. A total of 708 children aged 3-11 were measured. The biochemical analysis included 217 blood samples and the parasitological study included 284 samples. RESULTS: Anthropometric status was similar in both settings with low rates of underweight and stunting (<6%), and high rates of overweight (~17%) and obesity (~12%). Ca deficiency was significantly higher in suburban children where 80% of them were hypocalcemic. Around 70% of fecal samples contained parasites. Among infected children, the most prevalent species were Blastocystis hominis and Enterobius vermicularis (~43%) followed by Giardia lamblia (~17%). Differences in parasitological status between districts were not significant. In the suburban district parasitized children were lighter, shorter, and had a lower upper arm circumference than their non-infected peers. No differences in anthropometric status were seen among infected and uninfected rural children. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest an association between intestinal parasites and physical growth in suburban children. Rural children seem to be protected against the effects of parasitic infection.

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We studied the impact of a food supplementation program (Plan Más Vida (PMV)) on the micronutrient nutritional condition of pregnant women from low-income families 1 year after its implementation. The food program provided supplementary diet (wheat and maize--fortified flour, rice or sugar, and fortified soup). We performed a prospective, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, evaluating pregnant women at baseline (n = 164) and 1 year after PMV implementation (n = 108). Biochemical tests (hemogram, ferritin, vitamin A, zinc, and folic acid), anthropometric assessments (weight and height), and dietary surveys (24 h recall) were performed at the two study points. One year after PMV implementation, no significant changes in anthropometric values were observed. Folic acid deficiency and the risk of vitamin A deficiency (retinol, 20-30 µg/dl) decreased significantly (35.8 to 6.1 % and 64 to 41 %, respectively; p < 0.000). Anemia and prevalence of iron and zinc deficiency values did not change. Diet survey results showed that although nutrient intake increased significantly, it was still below recommendations. Implementation of the PMV and of the government nutritional strategies had a high impact on the prevalence of folic acid deficiency. We also observed a decrease in the risk of vitamin A deficiency, and no impact on iron and zinc nutritional status. Adherence to the specific fortified food (soup) was not good and intra-family dilution and distribution of food was high.

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INTRODUCTION: Obesity is associated with a wide range of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. OBJECTIVE: To establish an association between the nutritional status of 6-10 year old boys and girls and blood pressure. POPULATION AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted in 6-10 year old schoolboys and schoolgirls. Outcome measures and indicators studied included nutritional status as per body mass index; presence of central fat mass distribution estimated by waist circumference; and blood pressure (height, age and gender tables). Differences in mean values were analyzed using a Student's t test. The relationship between outcome measures was estimated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Linear regression models were adjusted for systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure using the following explanatory outcome measures: z scores for body mass index, age, gender and waist circumference. RESULTS: Five hundred and fifty five male and female children were evaluated; they were all younger than 11 years old. A total of 26.3% was overweight and 15.1% was obese. The prevalence of hypertension was 1.08%. Results show a positive linear relationship between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and age and waist circumference, and a trend is observed between systolic blood pressure and the body mass index z score (p = 0.068). CONCLUSION: Overweight and obesity were the most common nutritional disorders in schoolaged children in the studied district; there is an association between age, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and between systolic blood pressure and the body mass index z score.

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Introduction. Obesity is associated with a wide range of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Objective. To establish an association between the nutritional status of 6-10 year old boys and girls and blood pressure. Population and Methods. A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted in 6-10 year old schoolboys and schoolgirls. Outcome measures and indicators studied included nutritional status as per body mass index; presence of central fat mass distribution estimated by waist circumference; and blood pressure (height, age and gender tables). Differences in mean values were analyzed using a Student's t test. The relationship between outcome measures was estimated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Linear regression models were adjusted for systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure using the following explanatory outcome measures: z scores for body mass index, age, gender and waist circumference. Results: Five hundred and fifty five male and female children were evaluated; they were all younger than 11 years old. A total of 26.3% was overweight and 15.1% was obese. The prevalence of hypertension was 1.08%. Results show a positive linear relationship between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and age and waist circumference, and a trend is observed between systolic blood pressure and the body mass index z score (p= 0.068). Conclusion. Overweight and obesity were the most common nutritional disorders in schoolaged children in the studied district; there is an association between age, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and between systolic blood pressure and the body mass index z score.

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