Trend in the Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and Body Fat Distribution in Children and Adolescents in Northwestern Argentina Between 1982 and 2019

Abstract

The aim of this work was to analyze the trend of overweight, obesity, and bodyfat distribution of children and adolescents in Catamarca, northwest Argentina, in the lastfour decades. A data series obtained between 1982 and 2019 in the province of Catamarcawas analyzed. The sample of 5596 individuals (46.41% female), between 5 and 14 years old,was grouped into four decades: 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010. The categories of overweightand obesity, based on body mass index (BMI), were defined from the international referenceIOTF. The fat distribution was defined according to the subscapular tricipital index (STI).Between 1980 and 2010, BMI increased by 2.35 kg/m2, overweight varied between 13.9%and 21.0%, and obesity varied between 3.4% and 19.2%. The centralized fat distributionvaried from 3.9% in 1990 to 27.3% in 2010. In the cohort analysis, and after forty years, anincrease in excess weight and body fat centralization was observed in children and adolescentsin Catamarca. This trend was inversely proportional to the indicators of unsatisfiedbasic needs (UBN). It can be concluded that improvements in economic, educational, andhousing conditions were not reflected in a better nutritional status.