Alejandro Estrada-Restrepo

Exceso de peso, aspectos económicos, políticos y sociales en el mundo: un análisis ecológico

This study analyzed prevalence rates for excess weight in adults based on body mass index (BMI) and the association with various demographic, socioeconomic, and political variables (democracy index). An ecological design was used, including a total of 105 countries, with BMI data from 2000 to 2006. Other variables were obtained by proximity to the year of nutritional status. The study used the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for BMI. Spearman correlation coefficients and multiple logistic regression models were used. In both genders, overweight and obesity were correlated with calorie availability and the human development index (HDI) and its component variables. As for the variables related to democracy, there was an inverse correlation with weight, stronger in men than women. In conclusion, better living conditions in countries were directly associated with higher rates of excess weight in the population, with different patterns according to gender.

Apoyo social dignificante del adulto mayor institucionalizado. Medellín, 2008

Objetivo Analizar el apoyo social del adulto mayor residente en los Centros de Bienestar del Anciano de Medellin registrados en la Secretaria de Bienestar Social en el ano 2008. Materiales Estudio descriptivo transversal, que abordo algunas caracteristicas relacionadas con el apoyo social recibido por 276 adultos mayores institucionalizados en 39 centros de proteccion social, con fuente de informacion primaria. El analisis de la informacion fue univariado y bivariado. Resultados Los institucionalizados eran en su mayoria mujeres, con edades de 65-84 anos, solteras o viudas, con nivel de educacion primaria y secundaria; la mayor parte estaban afiliadas al regimen contributivo. Los principales motivos de institucionalizacion fueron: soledad, problemas de salud y por decision familiar; ellos son visitados por sus hijos y otros familiares, y este apoyo fue valorado como satisfactorio, pero mas de la mitad tenia sentimientos de soledad y la sexta parte manifesto humillaciones de sus seres queridos; es de anotar que una baja proporcion reporto maltrato de sus cuidadores. Conclusiones Las redes de apoyo social son fuertes dentro de la institucion y perciben un menor maltrato por parte de los cuidadores institucionales que de los familiares. En general, la soledad es un aspecto que lleva a los adultos mayores a institucionalizarse, pero esta permanece en ellos, motivada en parte por el poco contacto con las familias y la mediana satisfaccion con amigos y la misma institucion, evidenciando su condicion de desamparo y de vulnerabilidad social.

Design and Objectives of the South American Youth/Child Cardiovascular and Environmental (SAYCARE) Study: Design and Objectives of the SAYCARE Study

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the overarching study design of the South American Youth/Child Cardiovascular and Environmental (SAYCARE) study, which is an observational multicenter feasibility study held in seven South American cities: Buenos Aires (Argentina), Lima (Peru), Medellin (Colombia), Montevideo (Uruguay), Santiago (Chile), and São Paulo and Teresina (Brazil). Children and adolescents (3‐17 years of age) were studied.

Concentrations of Plasma Free Palmitoleic and Dihomo-Gamma Linoleic Fatty Acids Are Higher in Children with Abdominal Obesity

Increased plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with abdominal obesity (AO). However, this association remains controversial in children. This study analyzed plasma FFA concentration in children with and without AO. Twenty-nine children classified with AO were matched by age and sex with 29 non-obese individuals. Blood samples were collected after fasting for 10–12 h. Plasma concentration of glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined by automatized methods. FFAs were analyzed by gas chromatography. Children with and without AO had similar age (7.1 ± 2.6 vs. 7.2 ± 2.7 years; p > 0.05) but obese children showed higher (p < 0.05) body mass index (BMI) (+4.3 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (+5.1 mmHg), and insulin (+27.8 pmol/L). There were no significant differences in plasma total FFA concentration between groups (1.02 ± 0.61 vs. 0.89 ± 0.37 mmol/L; p > 0.05). However, children with AO had higher palmitoleic acid (0.94 vs. 0.70 wt %; p < 0.05) and dihomo-gamma linoleic acid (DHGL) (2.76 vs. 2.07 wt %; p < 0.05). Palmitoleic and DHGL acids correlated (p < 0.05) with BMI (r = 0.397; r = 0.296, respectively) and with waist circumference (r = 0.380; r = 0.276, respectively). Palmitoleic acid correlated positively with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.386; p < 0.05) and negatively with HDL-C (−0.572; p < 0.01). In summary, children with AO have higher plasmatic concentrations of free palmitoleic and DHGL fatty acids, which correlate with cardiometabolic risk factors.