The double burden of undernutrition and excess body weight in Mexico (621.5)

Abstract

Introduction: Stunting (ST) and anemia (AN) have declined but are still high in some regions and subpopulations and overweight and obesity (OW/OB) have increased at alarming rates; therefore, undernutrition and OW/OB coexist. Objective: Describe the coexistence of ST, AN and OW/OB at national (NAT), household (HH) and individual (IND) levels. Methods: Using the Health and Nutrition National Survey 2012 (ENSANUT 2012), prevalences of ST, AN and OW/OB in 0‐59 mo children (<5mo), school‐aged children (5‐11y) and adult women (20‐49y) were obtained at NAT level. Double burden of malnutrition (DB) at HH level was defined as coexistence of a ST < 5y and an OW/OB mother (ST‐OW/OBm). At IND level, DB was defined as concurrent ST and OW/OB (ST‐OW/OB) in 5‐11y, AN and OW/OB (AN‐OW/OB) in 5‐11y and women. To determine if coexistence of the conditions corresponded to expected values, given independent distributions of each of them, observed and expected prevalence were tested statistically. Results: At HH level, the prevalence of ST‐OW/OBm was 8.6%, at IND level prevalence were 1% for ST‐OW/OB in 5‐11y, and 2.9% for AN‐OW/OB and 7.4% for AN‐OW/OB in women. At HH and IND level in 5‐11y, prevalence of DB were significantly lower than expected, while those in women were significantly higher. Conclusion: Although some prevalences of DB were lower than expected, given independent distributions of the two conditions, the coexistence of ST, OW/OB and AN at NAT, HH and IND levels in Mexico call of policies and programs to prevent simultaneously the three conditions.