Trends in overweight and obesity in children under 24 months of age in Mexico (2012-2020): analysis of four national health surveys

The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased rapidly in Mexico, with significant consequences for the population's health in the future. Little is known about the prevalence of obesity in children under two years of age, even though this life stage is fundamental to prevent this condition. This study aims to determine the magnitude, distribution, and trends of overweight and obesity in children under 24 months of age using the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Surveys (ENSANUT) conducted in the last 10 years. The data presented here are derived from four ENSANUTs, carried out in Mexico in 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2020. They include 6,719 infants under 24 months with complete anthropometric data (weight/height) by age, gender, Indigeneity, area of residence, and socioeconomic status. The risk of overweight levels and overweight + obesity rates were calculated according to World Health Organization guidelines. We identified that infants < 12 months currently have a higher prevalence of overweight + obesity (10.3%) and that those aged 12 to 23 months are generally at a higher risk of overweight (26.1%). The most relevant findings of this study, linking weight trends to sex, region, socioeconomic status, and indigeneity, show that overweight and obesity prevalences vary across the Mexican population, without presenting a specific behavior. There is a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among Mexican infants and a slight trend toward increased obesity in infants < 12 months. Weight monitoring and obesity prevention interventions focused on the first 1,000 days of life are essential.

Conducta de apetito-saciedad y estado nutricio en lactantes menores de 6 meses de edad

La prevalencia de la obesidad infantil ha aumentado alarmantemente a nivel mundial. En lactantes, la etiología es multicausal, destacando la ingesta como un determinante clave para el aumento de peso. El comportamiento alimentario del lactante y que algunas madres perciban pobremente las señales de hambre y saciedad de su hijo, dificultan la autorregulación de la conducta de apetito-saciedad y puede favorecer el desarrollo de la obesidad. Sin embargo, las investigaciones aún son limitadas. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue identificar cómo percibe la madre la conducta de alimentación de su hijo y cómo se relaciona con el estado nutricio del lactante menor de seis meses de edad. El diseño fue descriptivo correlacional, se estudiaron 40 díadas (madre-hijo menor de seis meses de edad) que asistieron al programa Control de Niño Sano de una institución de salud pública. Se exploraron las características sociodemográficas de la díada y mediciones antropométricas de peso y talla. Se utilizó el Baby Eating Behavior Questionnarie para medir a través de cuatro subescalas la conducta alimentaria del lactante. La media de edad de los lactantes fue de 4.03 meses (DE = 1.16). El 37.5 % presentaron sobrepeso y el 62.5 % eran varones. La conducta alimentaria más percibida por la madre fue “disfrute de alimentos” (= 4.85; DE = 0.34), la conducta menos percibida fue “respuesta de saciedad” (= 2.06; DE = 0.83). La conducta de “mi bebé tiene un gran apetito” se correlacionó con el IMC del lactante (rs = 0.299, P < 0.05). Las madres fueron más sensibles para percibir las señales de hambre de su hijo, no así con las señales de saciedad, lo cual puede favorecer el aumento de peso rápido en el lactante y por ende el desarrollo de la obesidad a edad temprana.

Maternal Eating and Physical Activity Strategies and their Relation with Children's Nutritional Status

Objectives

to describe the maternal eating and physical activity strategies (monitoring, discipline, control, limits and reinforcement) [MEES]; to determine the relation between MEES and the child's nutritional status [body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP)]; to verify whether the MEES differ according to the child's nutritional status.

Method

participants were 558 mothers and children (3 to 11 years of age) who studied at public schools. The Parental Strategies for Eating and Activity Scale (PEAS) was applied and the child's weight, height and BFP were measured. For analysis purposes, descriptive statistics were obtained, using multiple linear regression and the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results

the highest mean score was found for reinforcement (62.72) and the lowest for control (50.07). Discipline, control and limits explained 12% of the BMI, while discipline and control explained 6% of the BFP. Greater control is found for obese children (χ²=38.36, p=0.001) and greater reinforcement for underweight children (χ²=7.19, p<0.05).

Conclusions

the mothers exert greater control (pressure to eat) over obese children and greater recognition (congratulating due to healthy eating) in underweight children. Modifications in parental strategies are recommended with a view to strengthening healthy eating and physical activity habits.

Maternal perceptions on Well Child Care

The aim was to analyze well child nursing care (WCC) and to distinguish if the care is procedure or user centered. The concepts of the nursing work process and the micro-politics of health work supported this qualitative study. Systematic direct observation of 87 WCC consultations was accomplished at one Family Medicine Unit and semistructured interviews were held with 25 mothers who attended WCC consultations with their child. Data saturation and understanding of the meaning were the criteria used to determine the number of observations and interviews. Thematic analysis was applied. The activity was focused on procedures, which cannot be considered WHCC. The mothers value comprehensive care and request information on the growth and development of their children. Educative topic should be addressed and trust relations should be established with a view to user-centered care delivery.