Chile, like many countries in the world, presents an increased incidence of overweight and obesity. Current figures show that this problem constitutes major public health problems of the country. Our country has inside information from the evaluation of height and weight made for children less than six years is carried out health checks of the establishments of primary health care as well as schools in the first grade. These activities have allowed the problem to know and observe the trend over time.
Data from numerous studies show that variables such as age, socioeconomic status, and region of the country have an enormous influence on the frequency of the problem, finding that the measure is increasing age, the prevalence of obesity is greater. When the data are analyzed by region, is that childhood obesity is higher in the extreme regions of the country like Magellan and Arica and when analyzed by socioeconomic status, most often appears in children belonging to lower income quintiles or is the poorest.
Information delivered to override the National Board of Student Aid and Scholarships (www.junaeb.cl) shows that obesity among schoolchildren in 2006 reached 19.4%.
The main cause of overweight and obesity in people is determined by excess energy intake over the spending of it, mediated by social, genetic, environmental. However, the rapid increase in children with obesity during the last year’s show that genetic factors are not the cause of the problem, since the gene pool of populations has been relatively stable over time. Therefore, although genetics may be important, overweight and obesity are currently inadequate expression of environmental factors such as mediated by a poor diet and lack of physical activity.
The higher prevalence of obesity in families of obese children confirms that they have a fundamental role in the genesis and maintenance of childhood obesity, possibly through a combined effect of genetic predisposition and especially transmission lifestyle.
The change of economic model in most countries, including Chile, contributed to changing lifestyles, incorporating habits that have changed the traditional Chilean diet. This new way of eating is characterized by an important and frequent consumption of foods high in calories, fat, especially saturated fats, Trans fats, salt and simple sugars. These foods are usually inexpensive, readily available, are advertised as very attractive in the media and have compelling presentations that are designed especially for children. These dietary patterns associated with a decrease in physical activity (less outdoor play, increased hours of TV and computer, automation of life) have allowed part of the energy supplied by the diet is saved, contributing to deposition of body fat and the development of obesity.
Childhood obesity as adult obesity is associated with a significant number of cases of diseases such as dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, orthopedic disorders (back curved, foot plane and scoliosis), sleep apnea, social exclusion and other problems like low self-esteem, depression and appetite disorders. All these diseases are already present in this generation of children will determine that they have greater health care needs when they are young adults, who will join the other urgent health needs present in other populations. Inevitably will increase health costs and quality of life will deteriorate further by the complexity involved in managing chronic diseases.
The main challenge for health authorities is the sharp increase in health costs, as these relatively young people with more than one risk factor for numerous chronic and require different care professionals trying to maintain health and an acceptable quality of life.