Effectiveness of a diet and physical activity promotion strategy on the prevention of obesity in Mexican school children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Overweight and obesity in children in Mexico was among the countries with the highest prevalence's in the world. Mexico currently has few innovative and comprehensive experiences to help curb the growth of this serious public health problem. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a nutrition and physical activity strategy, called "Nutrition on the Go" (<it>"nutrición en movimiento") </it>in maintaining the BMI values of school children in the State of Mexico.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A two-stage cluster trial was carried out. Sixty schools were selected in the State of Mexico, of which 30 were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG) and 30 to the control group (CG). A total of 1020 fifth grade school children participated. The intervention strategy aimed to decrease the energy content of school breakfasts and include fruits and vegetables, as well as increase physical activity and the consumption of water during the time spent at school. The strategy was implemented over a 6-month period.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The estimated probability (EP) of obesity between baseline and the final stage for the IG decreased 1% (Initial EP = 11.8%, 95%CI 9.0, 15.2, final EP = 10.8, 95%CI 8.4, 13.) For the CG, the probability increased 0.9% (baseline EP = 10.6%; 95%CI 8.1, 13.7; final EP = 11.5, 95%CI 9.0, 14.6). The interaction between the intervention and the stage is the average odd time corrected treatment effect, which is statistically significant (<it>p </it>= 0.01) (OR = 0.68, 95%CI 0.52, 091).</p> <p>This represents the interaction between intervention and stage, which is highly significant (<it>p </it>= 0.01) (OR = 0.68; 95%CI 0.52, 091). In addition, girls had a protective effect on obesity (OR = 0.56; 95%CI 0.39, 0.80).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The intervention strategy is effective in maintaining the BMI of school children.</p

Validación de materiales educativos de un curso en línea para promover el consumo de agua en adolescentes de nivel secundaria en México

Introduction: Validating health-education materials prevents the dissemination of erroneous messages and enhances the effectiveness of health-promotion initiatives. Objective: To describe the validation process for five educational materials pertaining to an online course on the promotion of water consumption among Mexican adolescents. Methodology: One group of 13-15 experts (technical validation) and another of 13-39 adolescents (population validation) reviewed three infographs and two videos using digital tools. Five criteria were established for the evaluation: appeal, clarity, identification, acceptance and inducement to action. A performance index was developed based on two categories: strong or weak compliance with each criterion. Successful compliance was determined when 70% or more of responses fell within the strong-compliance category. Results: Between 80% and 100% of the experts and adolescents rated all materials in the strong-compliance category for appeal, acceptance, clarity and inducement to action. For identification, however, the experts accorded the three infographs low scores, with similar results obtained from the adolescents for the three infographs and one video. Conclusions: Validation of the course materials allowed for identifying their strengths and weaknesses, as well as for ascertaining their usefulness in promoting water consumption among Mexican adolescents.Introducción: La validación de material educativo en salud podría evitar comunicar mensajes erróneos y mejorar su efectividad en promoción de la salud. Objetivo: Describir el proceso de validación de cinco materiales educativos de un curso en línea sobre promoción del consumo de agua entre adolescentes mexicanos. Metodología: Un grupo de 13-15 expertos (validación técnica) y un grupo de 13-39 adolescentes (validación poblacional) revisaron tres infografías y dos videos utilizando herramientas digitales según cinco criterios: atractivo, claridad, identificación, aceptación e inducción a la acción. Desarrollamos un índice de dos categorías: alto o bajo cumplimiento por criterio. Se determinó un cumplimiento exitoso cuando el 70% o más de las respuestas se concentraron en alto cumplimiento. Resultados: Entre el 80% y el 100% de los expertos y adolescentes calificaron todos los materiales con alto cumplimiento según atractivo, aceptación, claridad e inducción a la acción. El criterio de identificación según los expertos tuvo un bajo porcentaje de alto cumplimiento en las tres infografías. Se observaron resultados similares según los adolescentes para las tres infografías y un video. Conclusiones: La validación de los materiales permitió identificar sus fortalezas y áreas de mejora, y conocer su utilidad en promover el consumo de agua entre adolescentes mexicanos

Validación de material educativo: estrategia sobre alimentación y actividad física en escuelas mexicanas = Validation of educational material: strategy on food and physical activity in elementary schools in Mexico

Resumen: Introducción. Ante la necesidad de desarrollar materiales educativos que trasmitan mensajes claros y adecuados en salud, se realizó la validación de diversos materiales que apoyan la campaña “Recreo Saludable” que promueve estilos de vida saludable. Objetivo. Validar seis materiales impresos y cinco audiovisuales diseñados para promover una alimentación saludable, el incremento de actividad física y el consumo de agua pura. Material y método. Se seleccionaron por muestreo ocho escuelas primarias. Se realizó un estudio mixto de enfoque cuantitativo centrado en encuestas, y cualitativo fundamentado en entrevistas estructuradas. El análisis cualitativo se hizo con base en el contenido del discurso de los criterios explorados. Para el análisis cuantitativo se estimaron frecuencias con intervalos de confianza de 95%. Resultados. Para los criterios explorados se obtuvieron los siguientes resultados, entendimiento 87%, aceptación 78%, atracción 74%, inducción a la acción 93%, identificación 35%, lo que indica una validación positiva en la mayoría de las categorías. Los datos cualitativos aportaron aproximaciones necesarias para mejorar el contenido y el diseño de los materiales. Conclusión. Los resultados muestran que el material validado fue aceptado por la población e hicieron aportaciones para mejorarlo y con esto poder garantizar, la efectividad y aplicabilidad de estos como recurso pedagógico en estrategias educativas. Palabras clave: estudios de validación, materiales educativos y de divulgación, educación alimentaria y nutricional, actividad motora, educación en salud Abstract: Introduction. Given the need to develop educational materials that convey clear and appropriate messages on health, we performed the validation of various resources promoting healthy lifestyles that support the campaign "Healthy Recess". Objective. To validate six printed materials and five audiovisual ones, designed to promote healthy eating, increased physical activity and consumption of pure water. Material and methods. Eight elementary schools were selected for sampling. A joint study was conducted focused on surveys with a quantitative approach, based on structured qualitative interviews. Qualitative analysis was based on the content of the discourse of the criteria explored. Frequencies with confidence the explored criteria: understanding 87%; accepting 78%; appeal 74%; induction to action 93%; affinity 35%; which indicates a positive validation in most categories. Qualitative data provided necessary approximations to improve the content and layout of the materials. Conclusion. The results show that the validated material was accepted by the population and they contributed to its improvement, thereby ensuring the effectiveness and applicability of these as a pedagogical resource in educational strategies.Keywords: validation studies, educational and outreach materials, food and nutrition education, motor activity, health educatio

Food groups consumption and sociodemographic characteristics in Mexican population

Objective. To estimate the recommendable and non-recommendable food groups for usual consumption by sociodemographic characteristics in Mexican population. Materials and methods. Through a 7-day, semi-quan­titative food frequency questionnaire used in 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey, we estimated the proportions of population (preschool and school children, adolescents and adults) who consumed food groups that are relevant for public health by area, region and socioeconomic status (SES). Results. Less than 50% of population consumed vegetables daily; almost 80% of the population consumed plain water daily and sweetened beverages (3 d/week). Center and Mexico City regions had the highest percent­age of fruits and vegetables consumers (p<0.012). High SES had the highest consumer´s percentage of recommendable and non-recommendable food groups. Conclusions. A high percentage of the population do not consume fruits, vegetables and plain water daily

Prevalence of sleep symptoms and risk of obstructive sleep apnea in Mexico

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of sleep related symptoms (SRS) in Mexico, and their distribution by region, urbanization and gender. Materials and methods. Cross-sectional study using a national probabilistic sample among adults over 20 years old. We applied the Berlin questionnaire for sleep apnea risk (OSA) and questions on sleep duration, insomnia and sedative use. Results. The most frequent SRS were snoring 48.5% and difficulty falling asleep 36.9%. High risk for OSA was found in 27.3% of adults, increases with BMI (OR=1.1), age (OR=1.03) and urban residence (OR=1.37). Insomnia was in 18.8% with female predominance (OR=1.91). Average sleep time was 7.6 ±3 hours; 28.4% of adults sleep <7 h/night. Conclusions. SRS are highly prevalent. One in four Mexican adults have an elevated risk for OSA. Their detection and treatment could minimize detrimental health outcomes for them

Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, 2016 Halfway National Health and Nutrition Survey update

Objective. To estimate recent overweight and obesity prevalences in Mexican population under 20 years from Halfway National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut MC 2016). Materials and methods. Ensanut MC 2016 is a probabilistic national survey which gives representative information from national, regional and rural/urban levels. BMIz was estimated through weight and height, then it was classified into overweight risk or overweight or obesity ac­cording to WHO growth reference standards. Association between overweight and sociodemographic information was analyzed through logistic regression models. Results. Overweight-obesity prevalence was 5.1% in girls and 6.5% in boys<5y, 32.8% in girls and 33.7% in boys 5-11y, and 39.2% in female adolescents and 33.5% in male adolescents. Female adolescents from rural localities increased overweight-obesity prevalence from 27.7% in 2012 to 37.2% in 2016. Conclu­sions. Overweight-obesity increased in girls and females, mainly from rural areas. Strategies focued in containing this phenomenon are encouraged to implement in this context

Results from the National Nutrition Survey

Abstract Objective. The objective of the study was to measure the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mexican schoolage children (5-11 years) in the National Nutrition Survey 1999 (NNS-1999). Material and Methods. Overweight and obesity (defined as an excess of adipose tissue in the body) were evaluated through the Body Mass Index (BMI) in 10,901 children, using the standard proposed by the International Obesity Task Force. Sociodemographic variables were obtained using a questionnaire administered to the children&apos;s mothers. Results. The national prevalence of overweight and obesity was reported to be 19.5%. The highest prevalence figures were found in Mexico City (26.6%) and the North region (25.6%). When adjusting by region, rural or urban area, sex, maternal schooling, socioeconomic status, indigenous ethnicity and age, the highest prevalences of overweight and obesity were found among girls. The risks of overweight and obesity were positively associated with maternal schooling, children&apos;s age and socioeconomic status. Conclusions. Overweight and obesity are prevalent health problems in Mexican school-age children, particularly among girls, and positively associated with socioeconomic status, age, and maternal schooling. This is a major public health problem requiring preventive interventions to avoid Resumen Objetivo. Documentar las prevalencias de sobrepeso y obesidad en niños mexicanos en edad escolar (5 a 11 años de edad) obtenidas de la Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición en 1999 (ENN-1999). Material y métodos. El sobrepeso y la obesidad (definida como un exceso de tejido adiposo en el organismo) se evaluaron a través del Indice de Masa Corporal (IMC) en 10 901 niños, tomando como patrón de referencia el propuesto por el International Obesity Task Force. Las variables sociodemográficas se obtuvieron a partir de un cuestionario aplicado a la madre del niño. Resultados. La prevalencia nacional de sobrepeso y obesidad fue de 19.5%. Las prevalencias más altas se encontraron en la Ciudad de México (26.6%) y en la región norte (25.6%). Al ajustar por región, zona rural o urbana, sexo, escolaridad de la madre, nivel socioeconómico, edad e indigenismo, los mayores riesgos de sobrepeso y obesidad se encontraron en niñas; el riesgo de obesidad y sobrepeso se asoció positivamente con la escolaridad de la madre, con el nivel socioeconómico y con la edad de los escolares. Conclusiones. El sobrepeso y obesidad son problemas de salud de alta prevalencia en niños en edad escolar en México, especialmente en niñas, y se asocia positivamente con el nivel socioeconómico, la edad de los escolares y la escolaridad d

Demographic and spatial predictors of anemia in women of reproductive age in Timor-Leste: Implications for health program prioritization

10.1371/journal.pone.0091252PLoS ONE93-POLN