Research capacity for childhood obesity prevention in Latin America: an area for growth

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Nutrition Science

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant and growing public health concern in Latin America.
• There is a critical need for enhanced research capacity to understand, monitor, and address this issue effectively.
• Developing targeted strategies, policies, and programs is essential for combating childhood obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the existing research capacity in Latin America concerning childhood obesity.
• To assess the focus on nutrition and physical activity within this research landscape.
• To identify gaps and opportunities for strengthening research efforts.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and May 2015 was conducted.
• Articles focusing on childhood obesity in Latin America with at least one local author were analyzed.
• Data on author affiliation, subject nationality, research topic, and study design were coded and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Obesity emerged as the most frequently researched topic, with nutrition research being more developed than physical activity research.
• A prevalence of observational and cross-sectional studies suggests limitations in research capacity for complex study designs.
• A notable scarcity of intervention and policy-focused studies indicates a significant gap in research capacity.

Conclusions:

• There is a pressing need to build robust research capacity in Latin America for childhood obesity.
• Future research should focus on documenting the current scope of the problem.
• Developing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies requires enhanced research capabilities.