Browsing by Author "Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella"

Now showing 1 - 16 of 16
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A Landscape of Micronutrient Dietary Intake by 15-to 65-Years-Old Urban Population in 8 Latin American Countries: Results From the Latin American Study of Health and Nutrition
    (2024) Monge-Rojas, Rafael; Vargas-Quesada, Rulaman; Previdelli, Agatha Nogueira; Kovalskys, Irina; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Cortes, Lilia Yadira; Garcia, Martha Cecilia Yepez; Liria-Dominguez, Reyna; Rigotti, Attilio; Fisberg, Regina Mara; Ferrari, Gerson; Fisberg, Mauro; Gomez, Georgina
    Background: Latin American countries have shifted from traditional diets rich in micronutrients to a Westernized diet rich in high energy-dense foods and low in micronutrients.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Accelerometer-Measured Daily Step Counts and Adiposity Indicators among Latin American Adults: A Multi-Country Study
    (2021) Ferrari, Gerson; Marques, Adilson; Barreira, Tiago V.; Kovalskys, Irina; Gomez, Georgina; Rigotti, Attilio; Cortes, Lilia Yadira; Garcia, Martha Cecilia Yepez; Pareja, Rossina G.; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Guajardo, Viviana; Leme, Ana Carolina B.; Guzman Habinger, Juan; Valdivia-Moral, Pedro; Suarez-Reyes, Monica; Ihle, Andreas; Gouveia, Elvio R.; Fisberg, Mauro
    The aim of the present study was to examine the sex-related associations between accelerometer-measured daily step counts and adiposity indicators in adults from eight Latin American countries. We analyzed data from 2524 adults (aged 18-65 years) from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health. Device-measured daily step counts were measured by accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X). The outcomes were body mass index (BMI; (kg/m2), waist and neck circumference (in cm). Overall, the mean of daily steps counts, BMI, waist and neck circumference were 10699.8, 27.3, 89.6, and 35.8. Weak and negative associations were observed between daily steps counts and BMI (r = -0.17; p < 0.05) and waist circumference (r = -0.16; p < 0.05); however, step counts was not associated with neck circumference. Daily steps counts were negatively associated with BMI (beta: -0.054; 95%CI: -0.077; -0.012) and waist circumference (-0.098; -0.165; -0.030) independently of age and socioeconomic level. In men, there were significant negative associations between daily steps counts with BMI (-0.075; -0.119; -0.031) and waist circumference (-0.140; -0.233; -0.048), and in women, there was no significant association with either of the body composition indicators. The findings from this study need to be examined in prospective settings that use device-measured from Latin America.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Adherence to the EAT-Lancet Diet is Not Associated With Weight Status in a Latin American Urban Multicentric Study
    (Wiley, 2025) Vargas-Quesada, Rulaman; Monge-Rojas, Rafael; Romero-Zuniga, Juan Jose; Araya-Bastias, Carolina; Kovalskys, Irina; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Cortes, Lilia Yadira; Garcia, Martha Cecilia Yepez; Liria-Dominguez, Reyna; Rigotti Rivera, Attilio; Fisberg, Mauro; Gomez, Georgina
    The overweight/obesity high prevalence and the effects of climate change in Latin America underscores the possible positive outcomes of adopting a healthy and sustainable diet to respond to the region's burden of nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). However, research on adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet in Latin America and its association with overweight/obesity is limited. This study explores the relationship between the EAT-Lancet diet adherence and overweight/obesity in a cross-sectional and urban multicentric study involving 6683 participants aged 15-65. Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was evaluated using the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI). The findings indicate that high adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet (fifth quintile) was not significantly associated with overweight/obesity (reference: first PHDI quintile, PR: 1.057, CI: 0.993-1.125, p-trend = 0.140) after adjusting for key covariates. Equivalent outcomes were found when assessing adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet using the EAT-Lancet Index, the World Index for Sustainability and Health (WISH), and the Healthy and Sustainable Diet Index (HSDI), after adjusting for the same variables. The persistently high prevalence of overweight/obesity among different adherence levels to the dietary pattern and the study's design, do not appear to be the key factors contributing to the lack of association between these variables. Instead, the considerably low adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet in the sample as well as the low variability in adherence across participants with and without excess weight might help explain the lack of observed association. However, further research is needed to verify this conclusion.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Association between built environment and physical activity in Latin American countries: a multicentre cross-sectional study
    (2021) Barreno, Mishell; Sisa, Ivan; Garcia, Martha Cecilia Yepez; Shen, Hua; Villar, Monica; Kovalskys, Irina; Fisberg, Mauro; Gomez, Georgina; Rigotti, Attilio; Cortes, Lilia Yadira; Pareja, Rossina G.; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Guajardo, Viviana
    Objective To assess the association between the physical activity level and the built environment by accessibility, microinfrastructure and security in Latin America (LA).
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Breakfast skipping, nutritional status, and physical activity in a middle-aged Latin American population: a population-based study from Ecuador
    (2019) Lara, Melissa; Sisa, Ivan; Cecilia Yepez, Martha; Fisberg, Mauro; Kovalskys, Irina; Salas, Georgina Gomez; Rigotti, Attilio; Sanabria, Lilia Yadira Cortes; Garcia, Martha Cecilia Yepez; Torres, Rossina Gabriella Pareja; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Koletzko, Berthold; Moreno, Luis A.; Pratt, Michael; Tucker, Katherine L.; Guajardo, Viviana; Zalcman Zimberg, Iona; Paz Amigo, Maria; Janezic, Ximena; Cardini, Fernando; Echeverria, Guadalupe; Landaeta, Leslie; Castillo, Oscar; Cortes Sanabria, Lilia Yadira; Nayibe Vargas, Luz; Fernanda Tobar, Luisa; Milena Castillo, Yuri; Gomez, Georgina; Monge Rojas, Rafael; Chinnock, Anne; Cecilia, Martha; Garcia, Yepez; Villar Caceres, Monica; Belen Ocampo, Maria; Pareja Torres, Rossina; Reyna Liria, Maria; Meza, Krysty; Abad, Mellisa; Penny, Mary; Landaeta, Maritza; Mendez, Betty; Vasquez, Maura; Ramirez, Guillermo; Hernandez, Pablo; Chiavegatto Filho, Alexandre D. P.; Bezerra Goncalves, Priscila; Alberico, Claudia; Ferrari, Gerson Luis de Moraes; Previdelli, Agatha Nogueira; Aparecida Grande de Franca, Natasha
    Introduction: the failure to eat breakfast has been associated with weight gain, a lower level of physical activity, and poor diet quality.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Co-Occurrence and Clustering of Sedentary Behaviors, Diet, Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, and Alcohol Intake among Adolescents and Adults: The Latin American Nutrition and Health Study (ELANS)
    (2021) B. Leme, Ana Carolina; Ferrari, Gerson; Fisberg, Regina M.; Kovalskys, Irina; Gomez, Georgina; Cortes, Lilia Yadira; Yepez Garcia, Martha Cecilia; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Rigotti, Attilo; Liria-Dominguez, Maria Reyna; Fisberg, Mauro
    Poor diet, sedentary behaviors, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and alcohol intake seem to co-exist in complex ways that are not well understood. The aim of this study was to provide an understanding of the extent to which unhealthy behaviors cluster in eight Latin America countries. A secondary aim was to identify socio-demographic characteristics associated with these behaviors by country. Data from adolescents and adults from the "Latin American Health and Nutrition Study" was used and the prevalence of screen-time, occupational and transportation-sedentary time, socializing with friends, poor diet, SSB and alcohol intake, alone and in combination, were identified. The eight Latin America (LA) countries added to analyses were: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between >= 2 behaviors clustering, socio-demographics and weight status. Among 9218 individuals, the most prevalent behaviors were transportation and occupation-sedentary time, SSB and alcohol intake. Younger, female, married/living with a partner, low and middle-income and obese individuals had higher chances for these clustering behaviors. These results provide a multi-country level of understanding of the extent to which behaviors co-occur in the LA population.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Dietary Diversity and Micronutrients Adequacy in Women of Childbearing Age: Results from ELANS Study
    (2020) Gomez, Georgina; Previdelli, Agatha Nogueira; Fisberg, Regina Mara; Kovalskys, Irina; Fisberg, Mauro; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Cortes Sanabria, Lilia Yadira; Yepez Garcia, Martha Cecilia; Rigotti, Attilio; Reyna Liria-Dominguez, Maria; Guajardo, Viviana; Quesada, Dayana; Murillo, Ana Gabriela; Carlos Brenes, Juan
    Dietary diversity, an important component of diet quality, is associated with an increased probability of adequate micronutrient intake. Women of childbearing age (WCA) are particularly vulnerable to micronutrient inadequacy. The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) has been used widely as a proxy measurement of micronutrient adequacy. This study aimed to assess the association between MDD-W and nutrients adequacy among WCA of eight Latin American countries. Nutrient intakes from 3704 WCA were analyzed with two 24-hour dietary recalls. Dietary diversity was calculated based on ten food groups with a cut-off point of intake >= 5 groups. The mean dietary diversity score was 4.72 points, and 57.7% of WCA achieved MDD-W. Vitamin D and E showed a mean Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) of 0.03 and 0.38, respectively. WCA with a diverse diet (MDD-W > 5) reported a significantly higher intake of most micronutrients and healthy food groups with less consumption of red and processed meats and sugar-sweetened beverages. MDD-W was significantly associated with the mean adequacy ratio (MAR) of 18 micronutrients evaluated. Nevertheless, even those women with a diverse diet fell short of meeting the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) for vitamins D and E. MDD-W is an appropriate tool to evaluate micronutrients adequacy in WCA from Latin America, showing that women who achieved the MDD-W reported higher adequacy ratios for most micronutrients and an overall healthier diet.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Energy imbalance gap was associated with body mass index and sex in Latin American adolescents-results from the ELANS study
    (2024) Hernandez, Pablo; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Ferrari, Gerson; Almeida, Rafaela Yepez; Garcia, Martha Cecilia Yepez; Caceres, Monica Villar; Sanabria, Lilia Yadira Cortes; Sifontes, Yaritza; Landaeta-Jimenez, Maritza; Gomez, Georgina; Monge-Rojas, Rafael; Pareja, Rossina G.; Rigotti, Attilio; Kovalskys, Irina; Fisberg, Mauro
    Introduction Energy imbalance gap (EIG) is defined as the average daily difference between energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE). This study aimed to examine the associations between EIG and sociodemographic and anthropometric variables in the adolescent population of eight Latin America countries. Methods A total of 680 adolescents aged 15 to 18 were included in this study. The estimation of EI was based on two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. EE was predicted from Schofield equations using physical activity level obtained through the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Sociodemographic data and anthropometric measurements were also obtained. A descriptive analysis and multilevel linear regression models were used to examine associations between variables. Results The mean EI, EE, and EIG were 2091.3 kcal, 2067.8 kcal, and 23.5 kcal, respectively. Argentina had the highest EI and EIG, whereas Chile had the lowest EI and EIG. Males had a higher EI (2262.4 kcal) and EE (2172.2 kcal) than females (1930.1 kcal and 2084.5 kcal), respectively (p < 0.05). Overweight subjects had a lower EIG than did underweight and normal-weight subjects (p < 0.05). Subjects with low socioeconomic status (SES) had a lower EE (2047.0 kcal) than those with a high SES (2164.2 kcal) (p < 0.05). Conclusion Sex and BMI were associated with EIG in adolescents from Latin America.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Energy Imbalance Gap, Anthropometric Measures, Lifestyle, and Sociodemographic Correlates in Latin American Adults-Results from the ELANS Study
    (2022) Yepez Garcia, Martha Cecilia; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Ferrari, Gerson; Sanabria, Lilia Yadira Cortes; Hernandez, Pablo; Almeida, Rafaela Yepez; Villar Caceres, Monica; Gomez, Georgina; Pareja, Rossina; Rigotti, Attilio; Kovalskys, Irina; Fisberg, Mauro
    Overweight and obesity are often explained by an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. This, in addition to metabolic effects, makes it difficult to assess the real state of individual energy balance. This study aims to analyze the energy gaps between intake and expenditure in the adult population of Latin America, as well as its relationships with sociodemographic variables and nutrition status, to draw an epidemiological perspective based on the trends observed. The energy imbalance gap was used to this end. The difference between energy intake and expenditure can be applied as a reference to explain whether weight equilibrium can prevent weight gain. Moreover, the energy imbalance gap allows for a better understanding of the design of public health policies. Using data from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health, the energy imbalance gap in adult population from eight Latin-American countries was assessed in 5994 subjects aged from 19-65. Usual dietary intake was measured using two non-consecutive 24 h dietary recalls. The sociodemographic questionnaire was supplemented by anthropometric measurements. Physical activity was measured through the long International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Energy expenditure was obtained using the basal metabolic rate. For the overall sample, the mean energy intake was 1939.1 kcal (95% CI: 1926.9; 1951.3), the mean of energy expenditure was 1915.7 kcal (95% CI: 1906.4; 1924.9), and the mean of energy imbalance gap was 23.4 kcal (95% CI: 11.9; 35.0). Results show that energy intake and expenditure were higher in men. Moreover, subjects aged 19-34, of high socioeconomic level, who completed high school, were mestizos and were of normal weight consumed the highest number of calories. Overall, a positive energy imbalance gap was observed. Overweight and obese from Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela showed a significantly lower energy imbalance gap than underweight subjects. These findings confirm the high variability of energy imbalance gap and the accompanying correlates of energy intake and expenditure. Further research is needed to specifically address interventions in low and middle-income countries such as many in Latin America, to help reduce the prevalence of obesity and eradicate undernutrition.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Food Sources of Shortfall Nutrients among Latin Americans: Results from the Latin American Study of Health and Nutrition (ELANS)
    (2021) Barco Leme, Ana Carolina; Fisberg, Regina Mara; Veroneze de Mello, Aline; Sales, Cristiane Hermes; Ferrari, Gerson; Haines, Jess; Rigotti, Attilo; Gomez, Georgina; Kovalskys, Irina; Cortes Sanabria, Lilia Yadira; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Yepez Garcia, Martha Cecilia; Pareja, Rossina G.; Fisberg, Mauro
    Increased consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods can lead to inadequate intakes of shortfall nutrients, including vitamin A, D, C, and E, dietary folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. The objective was to examine the prevalence of inadequate intake of shortfall nutrients and identify food sources of shortfall nutrients in eight Latin American countries. Data from ELANS, a multi-country, population-based study of 9218 adolescents and adults were used. Dietary intake was collected through two 24 h Recalls from participants living in urban areas of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Foods and beverages were classified using the adapted version of the NHANES "What We Eat in America" system. Nutrients inadequacy was estimated using the Institute of Medicine recommendations and descriptive statistics were calculated. Prevalence of inadequacy was above 50% for most of the nutrients, which the exception of vitamin C with a prevalence of inadequacy of 39%. Milk, cheese, seafoods, breads, and fruit juices/drinks were among the top 5 sources for each of the 10 shortfall nutrients examined. Many food categories were top contributors to more than one dietary component examined. Understanding the nutrient intake and food sources can help inform dietary guidance and intervention approaches.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Main foods with added sugars and their geographic and sociodemographic variation: Latin American study of nutrition and health (ELANS)
    (2021) Fisberg, Mauro; Kovalskys, Irina; Gomez, Georgina; Rigotti, Attilio; Cortes Sanabria, Lilia Yadira; Yepez Garcia, Martha Cecilia; Gabriela Pareja, Rossina; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Koletzko, Berthold; Moreno Aznar, Luis A.; Mara Fisberg, Regina; Hermes Sales, Cristiane; Nogueira Previdelli, Agatha; Guajardo, Viviana
    This study aimed to describe the top 10 foods that contribute to added sugars intake in representative samples of urban populations in eight Latin American countries, and consider differences by country, sex, socioeconomic level (SEL), and age group. A household-based, multinational, crosssectional survey was conducted in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela (N=9218; 15-65 years). Contributors to added sugars were identified and listed based on the percentage of contribution to total intake of this nutrient. Data were stratified by country, sex, SEL, and age group, and the grams per day compared. Except in Peru and in the 50 to 65 years age group, soft drinks were the leading contributor to added sugar intake. Homemade beverages together industrialized beverages have been a prominent position on ranking. In general, the highest intake of added sugars by industrialized beverages was from Argentina, and the lowest frequency of beverages as sources of added sugars was observed in Chile. Among the top 10 contributors, male sex had highest added sugar intake, except for sucrose and sweet cakes. Higher intakes of sugars from natural fruit juice and sucrose were observed in the lower SEL. The highest and lowest intakes in the age groups change according to the food source. In conclusion, sugar-sweetened beverages were main contributors to added sugar intake, and the intake vary with geographical location and sociodemographic factors. Arch Latinoam Nutr 2021; 71(3): 164-177.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Meeting 24-h movement guidelines and markers of adiposity in adults from eight Latin America countries: the ELANS study
    (2022) Ferrari, Gerson; Cristi-Montero, Carlos; Drenowatz, Clemens; Kovalskys, Irina; Gomez, Georgina; Rigotti, Attilio; Cortes, Lilia Yadira; Yepez Garcia, Martha; Liria-Dominguez, Maria Reyna; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Peralta, Miguel; Marques, Adilson; Marconcin, Priscila; da Costa, Roberto Fernandes; Leme, Ana Carolina B.; Farias-Valenzuela, Claudio; Ferrero-Hernandez, Paloma; Fisberg, Mauro
    This study aimed to compare compliance with 24-h movement guidelines across countries and examine the associations with markers of adiposity in adults from eight Latin American countries. The sample consisted of 2338 adults aged 18-65 years. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) data were objectively measured using accelerometers. Sleep duration was self-reported using a daily log. Body mass index and waist circumference were assessed as markers of adiposity. Meeting the 24-h movement guidelines was defined as >= 150 min/week of MVPA; <= 8 h/day of SB; and between 7 and 9 h/day of sleep. The number of guidelines being met was 0.90 (95% CI 0.86, 0.93) with higher value in men than women. We found differences between countries. Meeting two and three movement guidelines was associated with overweight/obesity (OR: 0.75, 95% CI 0.58, 0.97 and OR: 0.69, 95% CI 0.51, 0.85, respectively) and high waist circumference (OR: 0.74, 95% CI 0.56, 0.97 and OR: 0.77, 95% CI 0.62, 0.96). Meeting MVPA and SB recommendations were related to reduced adiposity markers but only in men. Future research is needed to gain insights into the directionality of the associations between 24-h movement guidelines compliance and markers of adiposity but also the mechanisms underlying explaining differences between men and women.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Perceived Neighborhood Safety and Active Transportation in Adults from Eight Latin American Countries
    (2022) Castillo-Paredes, Antonio; Iglesias, Beatriz; Farias-Valenzuela, Claudio; Kovalskys, Irina; Gomez, Georgina; Rigotti, Attilio; Yadira Cortes, Lilia; Yepez Garcia, Martha Cecilia; Pareja, Rossina G.; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Fisberg, Mauro; Drenowatz, Clemens; Ferrero-Hernandez, Paloma; Ferrari, Gerson
    Neighborhood built environment is associated with domain-specific physical activity. However, few studies with representative samples have examined the association between perceived neighborhood safety indicators and domain-specific active transportation in Latin America. This study aimed to examine the associations of perceived neighborhood safety with domain-specific active transportation in adults from eight Latin American countries. Data were obtained from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (n = 8547, aged 18-65). Active transportation (walking and cycling) was assessed using the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Specifically, traffic density and speed as well as street lightening, visibility of residents regarding pedestrians and bicyclists, traffic lights and crosswalks, safety of public spaces during the day and at night, crime rate during the day and at night were used to evaluate perceived neighborhood safety. Slow traffic speeds, unsafe public spaces during the day, and crime during the day were associated with >= 10 min/week vs. <10 min/week of walking. Furthermore, drivers exceeding the speed limit and crime rate during the day were associated with reporting >= 10 min/week vs. <10 min/week of cycling. These results indicate a stronger association of the perceived neighborhood safety with walking compared to cycling.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Perceived Urban Environment Attributes and Device-Measured Physical Activity in Latin America: An 8-Nation Study
    (2022) Ferrari, Gerson; Werneck, Andre O.; Silva, Danilo R.; Kovalskys, Irina; Gomez, Georgina; Rigotti, Attilio; Cortes, Lilia Y.; Yepez Garcia, Martha Cecilia; Liria-Dominguez, Maria R.; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Pratt, Michael; Marques, Adilson; Van Dyck, Delfien; Leme, Ana Carolina B.; Fisberg, Mauro
    Introduction: Attributes of the neighborhood-built environment are associated with self-reported physical activity, but only a few studies have concentrated on device-measured physical activity in Latin America. This study examines the associations of perceived neighborhood-built environment attributes, device-measured sedentary time, and light-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in adults from 8 Latin American countries.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Physical activity and daily steps cut offs points for overweight/obesity prevention among eight Latin American countries
    (2022) Ferrero-Hernandez, Paloma; Farias-Valenzuela, Claudio; Jofre-Saldia, Emilio; Marques, Adilson; Kovalskys, Irina; Gomez, Georgina; Rigotti, Attilio; Cortes, Lilia Yadira; Garcia, Martha Yepez; Pareja, Rossina G.; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Fisberg, Mauro; Silva, Danilo R.; Sadarangani, Kabir P.; Ferrari, Gerson
    This study aims to establish cut-off points for the number of minutes of physical activity intensity and the number of daily steps that identify overweight/obesity in adolescents, adults, and older adults. This study examined data from 2737 participants. Physical activity intensity and the number of daily steps were assessed using GT3X+ ActiGraph model accelerometers. Body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-hip ratio were used as indicators of overweight/obesity. The cut-off points for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for the prevention of overweight/obesity according to body mass index in women ranged from 15.1 to 30.2 min/day; in men, the values were from 15.4 to 33.8 min/day. The lowest cut-off point for daily steps was established in the adolescent group for women and men (7304 and 5162). The highest value in women was 11,412 (51-65 years) and 13,234 in men (18-30 years). Results from measurements different from BMI, show average cut-off points for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and daily steps of 29.1/8348 and 43.5/10,456 according to waist-to-height ratio; and results of 29.3/11,900 and 44.3/11,056 according to the waist-to-hip ratio; in women and men respectively. A more specific recommendation of physical activity and daily steps adjusted by sex and age range is suggested to prevent overweight/obesity.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Socio-demographic patterning of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviours in eight Latin American countries: Findings from the ELANS study
    (2020) Ferrari, Gerson Luis de Moraes; Kovalskys, Irina; Fisberg, Mauro; Gomez, Georgina; Rigotti, Attilio; Sanabria, Lilia Yadira Cortes; Garcia, Martha Cecilia Yepez; Torres, Rossina Gabriella Pareja; Herrera-Cuenca, Marianella; Zimberg, Iona Zalcman; Guajardo, Viviana; Pratt, Michael; Cristi-Montero, Carlos; Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Fernando; Scholes, Shaun; Celis-Morales, Carlos A.; Chaput, Jean-Philippe; Sole, Dirceu
    Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviours (SB) are two independent risk factors for non-communicable diseases. However, there is a lack of objectively measured information on PA and SB in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to use objective data to characterise socio-demographic patterns of PA and SB in eight Latin American countries. 2732 participants (aged 15-65 years) from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS) were included. PA and SB data were collected using accelerometers. Overall and country-specific average levels of time spent in PA and SB were compared by sex, age, socioeconomic and education level. Overall, the mean time spent in SB was 571.6 min/day, ranging from 553.8 min/day in Chile to 596.7 min/day in Peru. Average levels of light, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and total PA were 311.1 min/day (95% CI: 307.7; 314.5), 34.9 min/day (95% CI: 34.0; 35.9) and 7531.2 MET-min/week (95% CI: 7450.4; 7611.9), respectively. MVPA and total PA were higher in men than women. The prevalence of physical inactivity was 40.6%, ranging from 26.9% (Chile) to 47% (Costa Rica and Venezuela). Women were more physically inactive than men (47.7% versus 33.0%). SB levels were highest among those with higher education; PA graded positively with socioeconomic level. Our findings can inform the planning of health policies and programmes designed to reduce levels of physical inactivity, as well as inform the local and cultural adaptation of these policies and programmes for implementation in Latin America. Highlights Worldwide studies of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviours (SB) have historically under-represented Latin American countries due to the lack of surveillance data. Across eight Latin American countries, the ELANS study collected data on PA and SB using an objective method (accelerometers) which we have analysed to quantify and characterise socio-demographic patterns. Over four-in-ten participants were physically inactive (40.6%); with a gender gap (47.7% women; 33.0% men); and striking differences between countries (47% Costa Rica and Venezuela; 26.9% Chile). In all countries, levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were lowest, and levels of SB were highest, among participants in the higher education groups. Our findings on the unequal distribution of PA and SB increases the evidence base and can help to inform future intervention strategies in Latin America.