Overweight and obesity in a rural Amerindian population in Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, 1968-2000

Variability of Body Build and Physiological Spinal Curvatures of Young People in an Accelerated Longitudinal Study

The human body is characterized by the variability of the characteristics of body build, which is expressed in the instability of spinal curvatures, which change during ontogeny. This phenomenon leads to a phylogenetic evolution of the human body build and posture. The aim of the study was to assess the dynamics of the variability of traits and indices of body build and posture and their mutual relations. It was assumed that over the 10-year observation period, a significant variability and relationships will be observed between the characteristics of body build and posture in young adults. Between 2006 and 2016, 2154 women and men aged 19.6 ± 0.8 were examined (first-year students at the University of Economics in Katowice, Poland). Measurements of basic anthropometric measurements and angular values of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis were performed. The collected data were analysed statistically, and the intergroup and intragroup differences were evaluated (ANOVA with repeated measures). The dynamics of variability (by building time series) and absolute and single-base increments were determined. The body build of young men and women in the period of ontogenetic stabilization in the study group has changed statistically significantly over the decade. A prediction of the increases in body weight and hip circumference was recorded over a period of 10 years, especially in men. The characteristics of body posture have also undergone a significant progressive change. In women, thoracic kyphosis increased by 96.15%, whereas in men, lumbar lordosis decreased by 52.65%. Significant sexual differentiation was shown for such characteristics as body height, waist circumference and the angle of lumbar lordosis. The relationships between the characteristics of body build and posture were verified. There was a moderate relationship between the hip circumference and lumbar lordosis in women and a weak relationship between body height and the angle of thoracic kyphosis in men.

Nutritional status and masticatory function of the indigenous compared with non-indigenous people of Nayarit, Mexico

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the nutritional statuses and masticatory function of the non-indigenous and indigenous adult people of the state of Nayarit, Mexico.

DESIGN

Forty-two indigenous (Cora or Huichol ethnic group) and 100 non-indigenous people, all adults with natural dentition, participated in this cross-sectional study. They performed a free-style masticatory test consisting five trials of chewing silicon pieces for 20 cycles. Masticatory performance was determined by sieving the silicon particles, masticatory laterality was determined by calculating the asymmetry index, and the cycle duration was also recorded. Weight and body fat mass were measured using a portable digital weighing machine and height and body circumferences were recorded to calculate the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and the waist-hip ratio. Each aspect of masticatory function and each nutritional variable were compared using T-test, analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney tests, as appropriate.

RESULTS

Body fat percentage, BMI, and waist-hip ratio were higher (P < 0.0005) in the indigenous group compared to the non-indigenous. The indigenous group had a significantly shorter stature than the non-indigenous group. Cora group had a higher BMI and higher percentage of body fat than the Huichol group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were detected between the groups for any aspect of masticatory function.

CONCLUSIONS

Indigenous people from the Nayarit, especially the Cora ethnic group, are more obese, have more total body fat, and more abdominal fat than non-indigenous people. Indigenous people show similar masticatory function.

Geographic variation in the growth status of indigenous school children and youth in Mexico

OBJECTIVE

To analyze variation in the growth status of indigenous children and youth attending bilingual schools, escuelas albergues, for the indigenous population in México.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The children and youth attended escuelas albergues in 1,009 localities in 21 Mexican states in 2012. Heights and weights of 31,448 boys and 27,306 girls 6-18 years of age were measured by trained staff at each school; the BMI was calculated. The students were divided into five geographic regions for analysis: North, Central, South-Gulf, South-Pacific, and South-Southeast. Growth status was compared to United States reference percentiles (P).

RESULTS

Mean heights of children and youth from the five regions varied between P10 and P5 of the reference until about 13 years (girls) and 14 years (boys); subsequently, heights were ≤P5. Mean weights in both sexes were at P25 of the reference between 6 and 12 years, and then varied between P25 and P10 in boys and were ≥P25 in girls. Given the elevated weights relative to heights compared to the reference, mean BMIs of indigenous boys and girls were at or above the reference medians. Children and youth in the North and Central regions were, on average, taller than those in the South-Pacific and South-Southeast regions, while heights of those in the South-Gulf region were generally intermediate. In contrast, mean weights and BMIs differed negligibly among the regions.

CONCLUSIONS

The geographic gradient in heights of indigenous children and youth was consistent with a north-to-south pattern noted among indigenous adults in studies spanning 1898 through 2013. Variation in height among children and youth likely reflected ethnic-specific and geographic variation interacting with economic and nutritional factors.

Evidence for energetic tradeoffs between physical activity and childhood growth across the nutritional transition

Despite broad implications for understanding human life history, energetics, and health, the impact of physical activity on childhood growth remains unclear. Particularly understudied is the effect of secular changes in physical activity on child development. We address these shortcomings using data spanning the transition from traditional to semi-developed economy among Yucatec Maya agriculturalists. Anthropometric and behavioral observation data were collected from children living in a subsistence-based rural community in 1992 and again in 2012 following the introduction of a school and mechanized technologies but minimal overt dietary change. Multiple regression analyses demonstrate dramatic twenty-year transformations in how children spent their time. This behavioral change was associated with large declines in estimated physical activity level (PAL), associated activity energy expenditure savings of several hundred kilocalories/day, and sizable increases in mean height, weight, and triceps skinfold thickness. Controlling for observed frequency of market food consumption, PAL was inversely related to child body size and subcutaneous fat stores and significantly mediated the effects of data collection year on anthropometric indices. These findings indicate that physical activity can considerably influence childhood growth, highlighting the role of energy allocation tradeoffs between physical activity and competing life tasks in shaping patterns of human ontogeny and health.

Secular trends are associated with the demographic and epidemiologic transitions in an indigenous community in Oaxaca, Southern Mexico

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that secular changes in body size and age at menarche are related to the demographic and epidemiologic transitions in an indigenous community in Oaxaca, southern Mexico.

METHODS

Data were derived from surveys of a Zapotec-speaking community conducted between 1968 and 2000. Segmented linear regressions of height, weight, BMI and recalled age at menarche on year of birth in cohorts of adults born before and after the demographic transition were used to evaluate secular changes. Corresponding comparisons of body size (MANCOVA controlling for age) and age at menarche (status quo, probit analysis) were done for samples of children and adolescents born before and after the epidemiological transition.

RESULTS

Height and weight increased in adults born after the demographic transition (mid-1950s), and especially in children and adolescents born after the epidemiological transition (mid-1980s). Age at menarche also decreased significantly in women born after the demographic transition, but at a more rapid estimated rate in adolescents born after the epidemiological transition. Secular gains in body weight were proportional to those for height among children and adolescents, but adults, males more so than females, gained proportionally more weight.

CONCLUSIONS

The secular trend in height in adults of both sexes was associated with the decade of the demographic transition in the mid-1950s. Significant secular gains in size attained and age at menarche occurred in children and youth born after the epidemiologic transition which likely reflected improved health and nutritional conditions since the mid-1980s.

Are there changes in the nutritional status of children of Oportunidades families in rural Chiapas, Mexico? A cohort prospective study

BACKGROUND

In Mexico, despite that the fact that several social programs have been implemented, chronic undernutrition is still a public health problem affecting 1.5 million children of <5 years. Chiapas ranks first in underweight and stunting at national level with a stunting prevalence of 31.4 % whereas for its rural population is 44.2 %. The purpose of this paper is to determine if the nutritional status of a cohort of children living in poor rural communities under Oportunidades has changed. We were interested in assessing the nutrition evolution of the children who were initially diagnosed as stunted and of those who were diagnosed as normal. Oportunidades is an anti-poverty program of the Mexican government consisting mainly in monetary transfers to the families living in alimentary poverty.

METHODS

A 9-year cohort prospective study was conducted with nutritional evaluations of 222 children. Anthropometric indices were constructed from measurements of weight, height, and age of the children whose nutritional status was classified following WHO standards.

RESULTS

The results showed that although these children were Oportunidades beneficiaries for 9 years and their families improved their living conditions, children still had a high prevalence of stunting (40.1 %) and 69.6 % had not recovered yet. Children who were initially diagnosed with normal nutritional status and became stunted 2 years later had a higher risk (relative risk (RR) 5.69, 2.95-10.96) of continuing stunted at school age and adolescence.

CONCLUSIONS

Oportunidades has not impacted, as expected, the nutritional status of the study population. These findings pose the question: Why has not the nutritional status of children improved, although the living conditions of their families have significantly improved? This might be the result of an adaptation process achieved through a decrease of growth velocity. It is important to make efforts to watch the growth of the children during their first 3 years of age, to focus on improving the diet of women at fertile age and pay special attention to environmental conditions to break the vicious cycle of malnutrition.

Adiposity and Insulin Resistance in Children from a Rural Community in Mexico

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The study of the incidence of overweight and obesity as well as body composition and insulin resistance in children from rural communities is scarce. The aims of the study were a) to characterize the adiposity and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in school-age children from a rural community and b) to determine factors associated with fat mass and HOMA-IR in this population.

METHODS

A total of 41 school-aged children (15 males and 26 females; 9.9 ± 2.5 years old) from a Mexican rural community was studied. Trained observers had previously assessed the children's nutritional status during the first 6 months of life. Anthropometry, energy intake, physical activity, body composition and biochemical parameters were measured.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of overweight/obesity was 7.3%. The mean energy intake of children was below international recommendations (1,235 ± 400 kcal/day). A higher percentage of fat mass was observed in females (20.3 ± 8.5) than in males (14.1 ± 5.1) (p = 0.006). There were seven children with IR, but we did not observe a correlation between HOMA and BMI percentiles (Pearson's r = 0.09, p = 0.57). In a regression model, gender (females) was the primary factor associated with the percentage of fat mass. The growth velocity during the first 6 months of life was associated with HOMA-IR.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a low frequency of overweight and obesity in children from rural communities in Mexico. However, these children appear to have increased risk of adiposity and insulin resistance.

Birth and breastfeeding dynamics in a modernizing indigenous community

BACKGROUND

Changes in health care access and birthing practices may pose barriers to optimal breastfeeding in modernizing rural populations.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated temporal and maternal age-related trends in birth and breastfeeding in a modernizing Maya agriculturalist community. We tested 2 hypotheses: (1) home births would be associated with better breastfeeding outcomes than hospital births, and (2) vaginal births would be associated with better breastfeeding outcomes than cesarean births.

METHODS

We interviewed 58 Maya mothers (ages 21-85) regarding their births and breastfeeding practices. General linear models were used to evaluate trends in birthing practices and breastfeeding outcomes (timing of breastfeeding initiation, use of infant formula, age of introduction of complementary feeding, and breastfeeding duration). We then compared breastfeeding outcomes by location (home or hospital) and mode of birth (vaginal or cesarean).

RESULTS

Timing of breastfeeding initiation and the rate of formula feeding both increased significantly over time. Younger mothers introduced complementary foods earlier, breastfed for shorter durations, and formula fed more than older mothers. Vaginal hospital births were associated with earlier breastfeeding initiation and longer breastfeeding durations than home births. Cesarean births were associated with later breastfeeding initiation, shorter breastfeeding durations, and more formula feeding than vaginal hospital births.

CONCLUSION

We have observed temporal and maternal age-related trends toward suboptimal breastfeeding patterns in the Maya community. Contrary to our first hypothesis, hospital births per se were not associated with negative breastfeeding outcomes. In support of our second hypothesis, cesarean versus vaginal births were associated with negative breastfeeding outcomes.

Ethnic inequalities and sex differences in body mass index among tibet minorities in China: implication for overweight and obesity risks

OBJECTIVES

In the present study, we for the first time investigated overweight and obesity level among Tibet minorities (Deng, Lhoba, Monba) living in remote villages at the south slope of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. For each ethnicity, the total number of population is less than 10 thousands in China.

METHODS

Anthropometric measurements were conducted on adult participants of three ethnicities in Tibet, China. Totally, the whole sample consists of 141 males and 163 females. Body mass index (BMI) was adopted to evaluate the overweight and obesity level.

RESULTS

Within each ethnicity, there was no significant sex difference on BMI. The general prevalence of overweight and obesity level of Lhoba ethnicity (18.42%) is higher than that of Monba (17.65%) and Deng ethnicity (6.29%). For each sex, the distribution of BMI classification was found to be significantly associated with ethnicity identity.

CONCLUSION

One possible reason for ethnic disparity among Tibet minorities in the present study is special dietary elements. Measures to prevent and cope with the problem of overweight and obesity among Tibet minorities are urgently required.

Body fatness in relation to physical activity and selected socioeconomic parameters of adolescents aged 15-17 years in Merida, Yucatan

BACKGROUND

Increasing rates of overweight and obesity in adolescents are major concerns in many countries, including Mexico.

OBJECTIVES

To study anthropometric and body composition characteristics (BCC) and their relations with socioeconomic status (SES), biological history and physical activity (PA) of school-going adolescent boys and girls in the city of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 321 adolescents (156 boys and 165 girls) aged 15-17 years from public and private schools in Merida, was taken from a study carried out in 2008-2009.

RESULTS

Body mass index had significant correlations to BCC (fat mass and fat-free mass). The rate of stunting was higher in girls (18.20%) than in boys (7.69%). Stunted adolescents had higher body fat (%) than normally growing peers. High rates of overweight (boys 26.28%, girls 24.24%) and obesity (boys 10.26%, girls 6.06%) were recorded. SES (parents' age, education and occupation; crowding index in the family; household food expenditure), participants' biological history and PA are related with height and BCC by age and sex.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents with excess weight (overweight + obesity) reported being less physically active. SES and PA were strongly related to growth and body fatness in the studied adolescents.

Community well-being and growth status of indigenous school children in rural Oaxaca, southern Mexico

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between community well-being based on an index of marginalization and growth status of indigenous rural school children in Oaxaca.

METHODS

Heights and weights of a cross-sectional sample of 11,454 children, 6-14 years, from schools for indigenous rural children (escuelas albergue) in 158 municipios in Oaxaca were measured in 2007. Tertiles of an index of marginalization were used to classify the 158 municipios into three categories of community well-being: lowest (highest marginalization), low, and moderate (lowest marginalization). Multivariate analysis of covariance, controlling for age, relative isolation and population size, was used to compare body size of children by category of community well-being. Contributions of marginalization, isolation and population size to variation in body size were estimated with sex-specific linear regression.

RESULTS

Children from municipios lowest in well-being were shorter and lighter than children from municipios low and moderate in well-being. Marginalization and relative isolation accounted for 23% (boys) and 21% (girls) of the variance in height and for 21% of the variance in weight of girls. Marginalization was the predictor of weight in boys (23%).

CONCLUSION

Community well-being was reflected in the growth status of rural indigenous school children. Compromised growth status was consistent with poor health and nutritional conditions that were and are characteristic of rural areas in the state of Oaxaca.

Growth status of indigenous school children 6-14 years in the Tarahumara Sierra, Northern Mexico, in 1990 and 2007

AIMS

The study evaluated the growth status and secular change in body size of indigenous Tarahumara children in northern Mexico.

METHODS

Heights and weights of Tarahumara children 6-14 years were measured in 1990 (n = 601) and 2007 (n = 583); the BMI was calculated. International criteria defined weight status while United States reference data defined stunting.

RESULTS

Estimated secular gains in height from 1990 to 2007 were greatest in 6-7 year-old boys and declined with age to a small, non-significant secular decline in boys 12-14 years. Among girls secular gains in height were similar at 6-7 and 8-9 years, largest at 10-11 years and small and non-significant at 12-14 years. Secular gains in weight were similar among 6-7 and 8-9 year-old boys and girls, were greater in girls than in boys at 10-11 years and showed a small, non-significant secular decline in boys and girls 12-14 years. Secular change in the BMI paralleled those for weight. The prevalence of stunting declined from 1990 to 2007 in both sexes and all age groups except 12-14 year youth. Overweight was more prevalent in girls than boys in both years and increased from 4% to 7% in boys and 9% to 13% in girls. Obesity was not common among boys and girls in each age group and in both years. Stunting and overweight/obesity were not related in either 1990 or 2007.

CONCLUSION

Positive secular changes in growth status have occurred in Tarahumara children 6-11 years in contrast to negligible changes among children 12-14 years. The results suggest recent improvements in health and nutrition sufficient to support a positive secular trend in younger children.

Physical activity in youth from a subsistence agriculture community in the Valley of Oaxaca, southern Mexico

Observations of activities of contemporary subsistence agricultural communities may provide insights into the lifestyle of youth of 2 to 3 generations ago. The purpose of this study was to document age- and sex-associated variation in household activities and daily steps walking to school of youth 9-17 years in an indigenous subsistence agricultural community in Oaxaca, southern Mexico. Activities during leisure were also considered. A cross-sectional survey of a rural Zapotec-speaking community was undertaken, and respondents included 118 boys and 152 girls, aged 8.7-17.9 years. Household and leisure activities were documented by questionnaire and subsequent interview. Household activities were classified by estimated intensity for before and after school and on the weekend, and an estimate of METS per day accumulated while doing chores was derived. Number of steps from home to school was estimated. Contingency table analysis and MANCOVA controlling for age was used to evaluate results. Household activities tended to cluster at light and moderate intensities in girls and at moderate to moderate-to-vigorous intensities in boys. Estimated METS per day in approximately 2 h of chores differed significantly by sex. Secondary school girls expended significantly more METS per day in chores than primary school girls, but there was no difference by school level in boys. The daily round trip from home to school was approximately 2400 steps for primary students and approximately 2700 and approximately 3100 steps for secondary boys and girls, respectively. Television viewing and participation in sports were major leisure activities for boys and girls. Daily household chores, walking, and leisure activities suggest moderately active and moderately-to-vigorously active lifestyles in girls and boys, respectively, in this indigenous subsistence agricultural community.