Does Chile's nutritional situation constitute a double burden?
Eduardo Atalah1, Hugo Amigo1, Patricia Bustos1
1From the Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|November 21, 2014
Summary
Chile shows low stunting rates but high obesity, indicating the double burden of malnutrition is unlikely. Micronutrient deficiencies and food insecurity exist in specific groups, requiring further study.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition science
- Public health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Chile is undergoing a rapid nutritional transition, marked by low stunting rates but high obesity prevalence across demographics.
- This transition presents a complex public health challenge, necessitating an evaluation of nutritional status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of a double burden of malnutrition in Chile using existing data.
- To assess the co-occurrence of undernutrition (stunting) and overnutrition (obesity) within the Chilean population.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of national health and nutrition surveys, including data from the Ministry of Health and Education.
- Utilized data on height, weight, body mass index (BMI), anemia prevalence, food consumption, and food insecurity.
Main Results:
- Low prevalence of stunting (1.9%-3.6%) contrasted with high obesity rates (22.1% in primary school children, up to 44.8% in women aged 45-64).
- Anemia prevalence was low (5.1% in women), but deficiencies in vitamins A, B-12, C, calcium, and zinc were noted.
- Food insecurity was higher among underweight and obese elderly individuals compared to normal-weight peers.
Conclusions:
- Chile exhibits high obesity and low stunting, suggesting the double burden of malnutrition is unlikely, differing from other Latin American nations.
- Specific populations face challenges with critical nutrient deficiencies and food insecurity.
- Further research with family-level anthropometric and biochemical data is recommended to accurately assess the double burden of malnutrition.
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