Advertising of ultra-processed foods and beverages: children as a vulnerable population

La rápida transición nutricional en América Latina tiene como resultado el aumento pronunciado de sobrepeso y obesidad en los niños. Evidencia reciente muestra que la publicidad de comidas y bebidas ejerce gran influencia en las preferencias alimenticias de los niños. Esta población se torna centro de atención para la industria de alimentos ultra procesados y bebidas, productos comercializados agresivamente. En los países de América Latina, sólo existen reglamentos ineficientes para la publicidad de bebidas y alimentos ultra procesados, y el discurso de auto regulación prevalece sobre los reglamentos legales. Este comentario explora el importante papel de la publicidad en el desarrollo de patrones de dietas no saludables y en la obesidad de niños en América Latina, así como la necesidad de acción gubernamental y participación social en la resolución de este problema de salud pública.A rápida transição nutricional na América Latina tem como resultado o aumento pronunciado de sobrepeso e obesidade nas crianças. Evidência recente mostra que a publicidade de comidas e bebidas tem grande influência nas preferências alimentares das crianças. Essa população torna-se alvo da indústria de alimentos ultraprocessados e bebidas, produtos comercializados agressivamente. Nos países da América Latina, só existem regulamentos ineficientes para a publicidade de bebidas e alimentos ultraprocessados, e o discurso de auto-regulação prevalece sobre os regulamentos legais. Este comentário explora o papel importante da publicidade no desenvolvimento de padrões de dietas não saudáveis e na obesidade das crianças na América Latina, bem como a necessidade de ação governamental e participação social na resolução desse problema de saúde pública.The rapid nutrition transition occurring in Latin America has resulted in a sharp increase of childhood overweight and obesity. Recent evidence has shown that food and beverage advertising has a great influence on children’s eating behavior. This population has become a key target market for the ultra-processed foods and beverages industry, which is marketing products in an aggressive way. Evidence shows that Latin American countries have poor regulation of ultra-processed foods and beverages advertising, where the discourse of self-regulation still prevails over statutory regulations. The following commentary explores how advertising might play an important role in developing unhealthy dietary patterns and obesity in Latin American children, as well as the urgent need for government action and the involvement of civil society to tackle this public health issue

Advertising of ultra-processed foods and beverages: children as a vulnerable population

Publicidade de bebidas e alimentos ultra-processados: crianças como população vulnerável ABSTRACT The rapid nutrition transition occurring in Latin America has resulted in a sharp increase of childhood overweight and obesity. Recent evidence has shown that food and beverage advertising has a great influence on children's eating behavior. This population has become a key target market for the ultra-processed foods and beverages industry, which is marketing products in an aggressive way. Evidence shows that Latin American countries have poor regulation of ultra-processed foods and beverages advertising, where the discourse of self-regulation still prevails over statutory regulations. The following commentary explores how advertising might play an important role in developing unhealthy dietary patterns and obesity in Latin American children, as well as the urgent need for government action and the involvement of civil society to tackle this public health issue. DESCRIPTORS: Child. Food Publicity. Industrialized Foods. FoodProcessing Industry. Nutritional Transition. RESUMO A rápida transição nutricional na América Latina tem como resultado o aumento pronunciado de sobrepeso e obesidade nas crianças. Evidência recente mostra que a publicidade de comidas e bebidas tem grande influência nas preferências alimentares das crianças. Essa população torna-se alvo da indústria de alimentos ultraprocessados e bebidas, produtos comercializados agressivamente. Nos países da América Latina, só existem regulamentos ineficientes para a publicidade de bebidas e alimentos ultraprocessados, e o discurso de auto-regulação prevalece sobre os regulamentos legais. Este comentário explora o papel importante da publicidade no desenvolvimento de padrões de dietas não saudáveis e na obesidade das crianças na América Latina, bem como a necessidade de ação governamental e participação social na resolução desse problema de saúde pública. DESCRITORES

Advertising of ultra-processed foods and beverages: children as a vulnerable population

Publicidade de bebidas e alimentos ultra-processados: crianças como população vulnerável ABSTRACT The rapid nutrition transition occurring in Latin America has resulted in a sharp increase of childhood overweight and obesity. Recent evidence has shown that food and beverage advertising has a great influence on children's eating behavior. This population has become a key target market for the ultra-processed foods and beverages industry, which is marketing products in an aggressive way. Evidence shows that Latin American countries have poor regulation of ultra-processed foods and beverages advertising, where the discourse of self-regulation still prevails over statutory regulations. The following commentary explores how advertising might play an important role in developing unhealthy dietary patterns and obesity in Latin American children, as well as the urgent need for government action and the involvement of civil society to tackle this public health issue. DESCRIPTORS: Child. Food Publicity. Industrialized Foods. FoodProcessing Industry. Nutritional Transition. RESUMO A rápida transição nutricional na América Latina tem como resultado o aumento pronunciado de sobrepeso e obesidade nas crianças. Evidência recente mostra que a publicidade de comidas e bebidas tem grande influência nas preferências alimentares das crianças. Essa população torna-se alvo da indústria de alimentos ultraprocessados e bebidas, produtos comercializados agressivamente. Nos países da América Latina, só existem regulamentos ineficientes para a publicidade de bebidas e alimentos ultraprocessados, e o discurso de auto-regulação prevalece sobre os regulamentos legais. Este comentário explora o papel importante da publicidade no desenvolvimento de padrões de dietas não saudáveis e na obesidade das crianças na América Latina, bem como a necessidade de ação governamental e participação social na resolução desse problema de saúde pública. DESCRITORES

Congenital Malformations of Pediatric Surgical Interest: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Prenatal Diagnosis Between 2005 and 2012 in the Capital City of a Developing Country. Bogotá, Colombia.

Las malformaciones congénitas (MC) causan un tercio de las muertes infantiles, con una variabilidad importante según la región del mundo evaluada y el impacto relativo de otras causas de mortalidad como la desnutrición o enfermedades infecciosas, así como el acceso y calidad del cuidado neonatal. En el año 2007, por primera vez en la historia del país, las MC ascendieron a la primera posición dentro de las causas de mortalidad en los niños menores de un año de edad. Se han establecido sistemas de vigilancia en MC a nivel local y regional en diversos países del mundo, entre ellos el Programa de Vigilancia de Malformaciones Congénitas de la ciudad de Bogotá (BCMSP). Algunas malformaciones son de especial interés para los cirujanos pediatras: onfalocele, gastrosquisis, atresias intestinales y esofágicas, malformación ano rectal, anomalías vasculares, hernia diafragmática, hipospadias y criptorquidia. El objetivo de este estudio es establecer posibles factores de asociados al embarazo, variables de la madre y del recién nacido, que puedan estar relacionados con la presentación de malformaciones congénitas de manejo por el cirujano pediatra. Métodos: El estudio a realizar es de tipo retrospectivo, y corresponde a un estudio de casos y controles que se llevará a cabo mediante el análisis de la información consignada en la base de datos del BCMSP entre 2005 y 2012. La selección de la muestra se realiza por conveniencia, tomando los recién nacidos registrados en dicha base de datos durante el periodo evaluado. Resultados: 282.523 nacimientos fueron vigilados por el sistema BCMSP. Del total de nacimientos vigilados, 4.682 (1.66%) presentaron MC. La frecuencia de malformaciones de manejo por el cirujano pediatra fie de 0.1%. Las MC más frecuente fueron las anomalías vasculares, hipospadias, criptorquidia, y malformación ano rectal. La exposición a factores físicos tuvo una asociación significativa con las malformaciones seleccionadas. El 51% de las malformaciones no tuvieron diagnóstico prenatal por ecografía. Conclusiones: El presente estudio recalca la importancia de conocer la prevalencia local de MC y posibles factores de riesgo asociado, con el fin de comparar nuestros datos con otros programas, detectar situaciones que son de interés para la salud pública e identificar posibles áreas de intervención. El principal problema detectado in esta población fue el bajo porcentaje de diagnóstico prenatal por ecografía.Congenital anomalies (CA) cause nearly one third of infant deaths worldwide. Various surveillance systems have been established, such as the Bogota Congenital Malformations Surveillance Program (BCMSP). Some CA are of special interest to pediatric surgeons: omphalocele, gastroschisis, intestinal and esophageal atresia, anorectal malformations, vascular anomalies, diaphragmatic hernias, hypospadias and cryptorchidism. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of such CA, and identify possible risk factors. Methods: Data from the BCMSP were collected between January 2005 and April 2012. CA were classified in accordance with the ICD-10 and grouped for analysis purposes. Data on CA frequencies were obtained from the BCMSP. Association analyses were performed using the case-control methodology. Results: 282,523 births were registered. 4,682 (1.66%) had one or more CA at birth. The prevalence of CA requiring pediatric surgery was 1 in 1,000. The most frequent CA were vascular anomalies, hypospadias, and anorectal malformations. Exposure to external factors was significantly associated with selected CA. 51% of selected birth defects were not diagnosed in prenatal ultrasound. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of evaluating the local prevalence of congenital malformations. We propose the creation of specialized centers in Bogota to manage patients with CA

Advertising of ultra-processed foods and beverages: children as a vulnerable population

The rapid nutrition transition occurring in Latin America has resulted in a sharp increase of childhood overweight and obesity. Recent evidence has shown that food and beverage advertising has a great influence on children’s eating behavior. This population has become a key target market for the ultra-processed foods and beverages industry, which is marketing products in an aggressive way. Evidence shows that Latin American countries have poor regulation of ultra-processed foods and beverages advertising, where the discourse of self-regulation still prevails over statutory regulations. The following commentary explores how advertising might play an important role in developing unhealthy dietary patterns and obesity in Latin American children, as well as the urgent need for government action and the involvement of civil society to tackle this public health issue

Associations between time spent traveling in motor vehicles and physical activity in Colombian adults from urban areas

Sedentary behaviors are associated with less physical activity. Little evidence exists about this association and its relation with commuting time in Latin America. This study examined the association between time spent traveling in motor vehicles and physical activity levels in the domains of leisure time physical activity and transportation, among Colombian adults in urban areas. A secondary data analysis of the 2010 National Nutrition Survey was conducted. Time spent traveling in motor vehicles and physical activity were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Binary logistic regressions were conducted. Time spent traveling in motor vehicles for 120 minutes or more was reported among 27.6% of the sample. The prevalence of walking and bicycling as a means of transportation for at least 150 minutes per week was 34% and 4.4%, respectively. Achieving at least 150 minutes of leisure time physical activity a week was reported by 18.4% of the sample. This study suggests negative associations between time spent traveling in motor vehicles and active transport, with significant trend associations in stratified analyses. No significant associations were found between time spent traveling in motor vehicles and leisure time physical activity

Congenital malformations of pediatric surgical interest : prevalence, risk factors, and prenatal diagnosis between 2005 and 2012 in the capital city of a developing country. Bogotá, Colombia

Q2Q11099-1103Background: Congenital anomalies (CAs) cause nearly one third of infant deaths worldwide. Various surveillance systems have been established, such as the Bogota Congenital Malformations Surveillance Program (BCMSP). Some CAs are of special interest to pediatric surgeons: omphalocele, gastroschisis, intestinal and esophageal atresia, anorectal malformations, vascular anomalies, diaphragmatic hernias, hypospadias and cryptorchidism. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of such CAs, and identify possible risk factors. Methods: Data from the BCMSP were collected between January 2005 and April 2012. CAs were classified in accordance with the ICD-10 and grouped for analysis purposes. Data on CA frequencies were obtained from the BCMSP. Association analyses were performed using the case–control methodology. Results: 282,523 births were registered. 4682 (1.66%) had one or more CAs at birth. The prevalence of CAs requiring pediatric surgery was 1 in 1000. The most frequent CAs were vascular anomalies, hypospadias, and anorectal malformations. Exposure to external factors was significantly associated with selected CAs. 51% of selected birth defects were not diagnosed in prenatal ultrasound. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of evaluating the local prevalence of congenital malformations. We propose the creation of specialized centers in Bogota to manage patients with CAs

Nephronophthisis gene products display RNA-binding properties and are recruited to stress granules

Mutations of cilia-associated molecules cause multiple developmental defects that are collectively termed ciliopathies. However, several ciliary proteins, involved in gating access to the cilium, also assume localizations at other cellular sites including the nucleus, where they participate in DNA damage responses to maintain tissue integrity. Molecular insight into how these molecules execute such diverse functions remains limited. A mass spectrometry screen for ANKS6-interacting proteins suggested an involvement of ANKS6 in RNA processing and/or binding. Comparing the RNA- binding properties of the known RNA-binding protein BICC1 with the three ankyrin- repeat proteins ANKS3, ANKS6 (NPHP16) and INVERSIN (NPHP2) confirmed that certain nephronophthisis (NPH) family members can interact with RNA molecules. We also observed that BICC1 and INVERSIN associate with stress granules in response to translational inhibition. Furthermore, BICC1 recruits ANKS3 and ANKS6 into TIA-1- positive stress granules after exposure to hippuristanol. Our findings uncover a novel function of NPH family members, and provide further evidence that NPH family members together with BICC1 are involved in stress responses to maintain tissue and organ integrity