Introducción: El control de la composición corporal y la actividad física en niños constituyen objetivos de las estrategias de intervención en salud pública para evitar las enfermedades asociadas al sedentarismo y a la inadecuada alimentación.

Objetivo: Determinar el índice de masa corporal, el porcentaje de grasa orgánica y los niveles de actividad física, según el sexo, en infantes colombianos escolarizados.

Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en 184 infantes escolarizados (9,6 ± 1 años; 51 % niñas). Se evaluaron la talla, la masa corporal, el percentil del índice de masa corporal para la edad, el porcentaje de grasa orgánica y los niveles de actividad física, con la versión en español del Physical Activity Questionnaire-Children (PAQ-C). Se analizaron las diferencias de actividad física, los comportamientos sedentarios y la composición corporal por sexo.  

Resultados: Las niñas evaluadas presentaron un mayor porcentaje de grasa corporal (niñas 22,3 vs niños 19, p < 0,002). Los niños resultaron más activos, principalmente en las actividades de recreo (niñas 3,19 ± 1,29 vs niños 3,87±1,16, p < 0,01), y en las que anteceden y suceden al almuerzo (niñas 2,13 ± 1,24 vs niños 2,52 ± 1,28, p < 0,05).

Conclusiones: Las niñas muestran un porcentaje de grasa corporal más alto y los niños son más activos físicamente. Durante las clases de educación física y recreo resulta más dinámico el comportamiento de ambos sexos; por tanto, deben desarrollarse estrategias de intervención en el contexto escolar y principalmente extraescolar.

Introducción: El sobrepeso y la obesidad son considerados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud como un factor de riesgo metabólico asociado a enfermedades no transmisibles.

Objetivo: Evaluar la asociación entre sobrepeso y obesidad con los antecedentes de colesterol sanguíneo elevado, presión arterial alta y diabetes sacarina.

Métodos: Estudio transversal, analítico, realizado en 297 estudiantes de una universidad privada de Panamá. Se consideró como variable dependiente el sobrepeso-obesidad determinada para los participantes con un IMC ≥ 25 kg/m². Para establecer los antecedentes de presión arterial alta, diabetes sacarina y colesterol sanguíneo elevado, se aplicó el cuestionario básico del instrumento STEPS de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Fueron realizados análisis descriptivos, bivariados y múltiples utilizando modelos de regresión logística.

Resultados: El 46,12 % de la población de estudio presentó sobrepeso-obesidad. Los hombres mostraron una prevalencia estadísticamente significativa más alta que las mujeres. El 12,45 %, 11,11 % y 8,75 % de los estudiantes reportaron antecedente de presión arterial alta, colesterol sanguíneo elevado y diabetes sacarina, respectivamente. Después de ajustar por sexo, edad y nivel socioeconómico, los participantes que reportaron antecedente de colesterol sanguíneo elevado en sangre presentaron una mayor probabilidad de tener sobrepeso-obesidad (OR = 2,92, IC 95 %: 1,07-7,93, p = 0,035).

Conclusiones: Casi la mitad de los universitarios presentaron sobrepeso-obesidad. Se encontró una mayor probabilidad de tener sobrepeso-obesidad en los estudiantes que reportaron colesterol sanguíneo elevado. Es importante la implementación de estrategias que promuevan la adquisición de hábitos de vida saludable en la población universitaria panameña con el objetivo de disminuir el riesgo cardiovascular futuro.

Introduction: Obesity, "epidemic of the XXI century", affects the cardiovascular system, whose diseases are among the leading causes of morbimortality in most developed countries, as well as in some developing nations such as Cuba, where mortality rate of cardiovascular causes reached 228.2 every 100000 inhabitants in 2018.

Classification: observational of prevalence, descriptive-correlational; transversal; and applied.

Objective: To describe functional cardiac modifications associated with overnutrition and expressed during and after physical effort, Havana, Cuba.

Population: 102 subjects who attended said laboratory with to have a periodical health follow-up from January 2017 to April 2018, of 30-70 years of age, without personal history of ischemic heart disease or contraindications to perform an Exercise Stress Test, and in whose attention the researchers participated.

Method: Anamnesis, physical exam, bioimpedance and exercise stress test. The subjects were classified according to body fat percentage: groups N (normal), H (high) and V (very high).

Results: 83 subjects completed the study, predominating women and subjects of 50-59 years of age. The most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors were overnutrition, sedentary lifestyle and hypertension. Functional capacity was diminished with the increase in body fat percentage (BFP). In subjects of group N there was no ST-segment deviation. 18 subjects presented arrhythmia during and after the exercise, among them 88,2% had a BFP higher than normal; the most frequent arrhythmias were sinus tachycardia and ventricular extrasystole.

Conclusions: overnutrition is associated with functional cardiac modifications that imply an increase of cardiovascular risk, with decreased exercise tolerance and augmented incidence of ischemia and cardiac arrhythmias.

Introducción: En todo el mundo, se observa un aumento constante en la frecuencia de la Diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2), lo que hace necesario tomar medidas preventivas.

Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue predecir la DM2 a través de la regresión logística binaria en una institución sanitaria de Santo Domingo, en Ecuador.

Métodos: El estudio fue predictivo, analítico, retrospectivo, observacional y transversal. La población estuvo conformada por 324 pacientes de una institución sanitaria de Santo Domingo en Ecuador. El procedimiento estadístico se centró en la regresión logística binaria. Se utilizó el software SPSS 26. Inicialmente, se aplicó la prueba Chi-cuadrado (X²) para evaluar las asociaciones entre la DM2 y cada variable predictora por separado. Para evaluar la capacidad predictiva del modelo, se empleó la prueba Kappa de Cohen.

Resultados: Las variables de hipertensión arterial, antecedentes familiares, sedentarismo y obesidad mostraron ser altamente significativas en la predicción de DM 2, mientras que el consumo de alcohol no parece tener una influencia significativa en este contexto. El valor Kappa de 0,514 fue indicativo de un acuerdo moderado a sustancial, lo que sugirió que el modelo era eficaz para predecir la DM2 en esta población.

Conclusiones: El estudio confirmó la hipótesis alternativa (H1) al encontrar que las variables de hipertensión arterial, antecedentes familiares, sedentarismo y obesidad estaban relacionadas de manera significativa con la DM2 en la población estudiada. Al mismo tiempo, no encontró evidencia significativa para apoyar la influencia del consumo de alcohol en la predicción de DM2 en esta población.

Introducción: El desacondicionamiento físico se asocia con disminución en la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria, aumento en el contenido de grasa corporal, e imbalances en respuesta inflamatoria, todos ellos factor de riesgo frente a la agresión de una intervención quirúrgica mayor. El valor de consumo de oxígeno (VO₂max), el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y los valores plasmáticos de citoquinas de pacientes programados para una intervención quirúrgica mayor abdominal a menudo no se tienen en cuenta en la valoración prequirúrgica.

Objetivo: Determinar la condición física e inflamatoria de pacientes que se trataron con una intervención quirúrgica mayor abdominal.

Métodos: Investigación cuantitativa, descriptiva. Muestra por conveniencia de pacientes que se trataron con una intervención quirúrgica mayor abdominal en dos hospitales de Manizales (Colombia). Previo a la intervención, se midió VO₂max, el IMC y valores de citoquinas.

Resultados: Participaron en el estudio 6 hombres y 48 mujeres. Los valores promedio del VO₂max se categorizaron como bajos. Se encontraron valores altos de IMC, del receptor antagonista de IL-1 (IL-1 Ra) y del factor neutrotrófico derivado del cerebro (BDNF).  No se hallaron diferencias significativas en los valores promedio de VO₂max, de IL-1Ra y de BDNF entre los grupos. Los pacientes programados para intervención quirúrgica ginecológica y gastrointestinal tuvieron sobrepeso y los programados para intervención quirúrgica bariátrica fueron obesos mórbidos.

Conclusión: Pacientes programados para una intervención quirúrgica mayor abdominal presentan valores bajos de VO₂max para la edad y altos de IMC. Se hallaron valores altos de IL-1Ra y de BDNF asociadas a obesidad y a posible antiinflamación.

Introduction: Monosodium glutamate-induced obesity canmodify blood pressure values. Objective: To evaluate the influence of pregestational obesity on the blood presure. Methods: Newborn female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups to receive MSG (4 mg/g of body weight) or NaCl 0.9%, subcutaneously, on days 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 of life.At 90 days the animals injected with monosodium glutamate were determined the corporal weight (g) and the corporal length (cm) for the calculation of the Lee index (cube root of the body weight/corporal length). With values higher than 0,300 obesity was confirmed. Rats were then mated overnight with healthy males of the same substrain, starting from 120 days of age.Gestational day 0 was defined when sperms were found in vaginal smear.Systolic (SAP) and diastolic (DAP)arterial pressuresand heart ratewere measured on the rat tail at 18 days of gestation. For itit was used non-invasive blood pressure system(CODA TM, Kent Scientific corporation). The mean arterial pressure(MAP) was calculedby the following formula: DAP + [(SAP- DAP)/3]. These investigation have been conducted in conformance with the Ethical Principles for the use of animals in research. InfoStat program and Statistic package (version 10.0) were utilized. To compare continuous nonparametric variables between groups, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. A P value < 0,05 was considered significant. Results: SAP, DAP and MAP were significant decrease in obese pregnat rats compared to control. There was no significant difference in heart rate between groups. Conclusion: monosodium glutamate-induced obesity affect blood pressure values, probably due to parasympathetic system hyperactivation.

Introduction: monosodium glutamate can induce obesity and influence negatively inthe rat reproductive function. Objective: To evaluate the influence of the visceral obesity on the reproductive function. Methods: Newborn female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups to receive MSG (4 mg/g of body weight)or NaCl 0.9%, subcutaneously, on days 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 of life.At 90 days the animals injected with monosodium glutamate were determined the corporal weight (g) and the corporal length (cm) for the calculation of the Lee index (cube root of the body weight/corporal length). With values higher than 0,300 obesity was confirmed. From this day and to the day 105of life vaginal smears were collected every morning that were observed under light microscope for determination of the estrous cycle duration (days). Rats were then mated overnight with healthy males of the same substrain, starting from 120 days of age.Gestational day 0 was defined when sperms were found in vaginal smear.To a group of obese (n=15) and controls (n=13) practiced them euthanasia the day 11 of gestation. To the rest of the animals practiced them euthanasia the day 20 of gestation (Controls: n=10, Obese: n=11). The uterus was dissected out. The ovaries and uterine contents were examined to determine the number of corpora lutea, implantation sites, resorptions and number of embryos and live and dead fetuses. Reproductive parameters were determinated: fertility index (number of pregnant females x 100 /number of mated females); pregnancy index (number of dams with live pups x 100 / number of pregnant females); preimplantation loss rate (number of corpora lutea−number of implantations × 100/ number of corpora lutea). The postimplantation loss rate (number of implantations−number of living fetuses and embryos × 100/number of implantations). InfoStat program and Statistic package (version 10.0) were utilized. To compare continuous nonparametric variables between groups, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. Fisher exact test was used to compare proportions.A P value < 0,05 was considered significant. Results: the estrous cycle duration was significant increase in obese rats compared to controls. The obese rats had a significant reduced number of corporalutea, implantationsand number of embryos and fetuses. There were no significant differences in fertility and pregnancy indexes, preimplantation and postimplantation loss rates. Conclusion: monosodium glutamate-induced obesity had influence negatively the rat reproductive function, that can be due to the combined effect of the hypothalamic lesion induced by monosodium glutamate and the metabolic own alterations of obesity.

Introduction: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is used as a flavor enhancer, but its actions in health are a debated issue. Its effects on the Psychoneuroendocrine-immune system are not known. Objective: To determine the effect of monosodium glutamate on body mass, reproduction and lactation in Balb / c mice and their offspring.
Materials and methods: 20 mice in the neonatal period are administered subcutaneous GMS 4mg / kg diluted in 10 microliters of distilled water and others with 0.9% NaCl. At 90 days the Lee Index is calculated to determine the body weight, then they are paired in 4 groups of 5 mice where males and females are interbreed with GMS and 0.9% NaCl. The weight of the offspring in these crosses is compared to indirectly assess lactation. Results: 100% of mice treated with MSG are obese because they have a Lee Index higher than 0.300. The females with GMS give birth to less than 4 offspring while the females (NaCl) mate with males (GMS) have an average offspring of 4-5 offspring. The weight of the offspring born of parents treated with MSG is lower than those not treated. Conclusions: MSG administered subcutaneously in murine neonates induces obesity. Reproduction and lactation are affected in those treated with MSG since the number of offspring and the body weight of their offspring is lower than that of the untreated.

Introduction: The generation of obesity through hypercaloric dieting is accompanied by a reduction of some indexes of cognitive performance such as spatial learning and memory in animal models. This suggests that hypercaloric feeding interferes in the dynamics of the neuron populations of the hippocampus. It is known that feeding hypercaloric diets implies a calorie-based regulation of food intake that results in a reduction of the protein and micronutrient supply, which in itself could affect metabolic and cognitive variables in addition to obesity.

Objective: In this study we discriminate the effects of obesity and undernutrition on the structure of the neuron populations of the Ammon Horn (CA) and the dentate gyrus (GD) of the rat hippocampus.

Material and Methods: A group of rats was maintained on a hypercaloric diet or on a hypercaloric diet supplemented with proteins and micronutrients, for 25 weeks. At the end of the treatment, the animals were tested for spatial learning performance and then sacrificed to obtain the brains. Samples were processed and analyzed by conventional histological technique to evaluate the integrity of the pyramidal neurons of each hippocampal region.

Results: The hypercaloric feeding raised metabolic markers of obesity and insulin resistance, and caused an increase in the number of atrophic neurons in all fields of CA but not in GD. Dietary restitution did not modify the development of obesity; however, it prevented the neuronal damage specifically in CA1 but not in CA 2 to 4. The DG was not affected in any condition. The reduction of neuronal damage in CA1 coincided with an improvement in performance in memory tests.

Conclusions: These results suggest that the hypercaloric diet exerts differential effects on the different neuron populations of the hippocampus, which in some cases are due to nutritional deficiency and in others to obesity itself.

Keywords: hypercaloric diet, rats, neuron population, hypocampus, obesity, insulin resistance

Introduction: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is used as a flavor enhancer, but its actions in health are a debated issue. Its effects on the Psychoneuroendocrine-immune system are not known.
Objectives: To determine the effect of monosodium glutamate on body mass, reproduction and lactation in Balb / c mice and their offspring.
Methods: 20 mice in the neonatal period are administered subcutaneous GMS 4mg / kg diluted in 10 microliters of distilled water and others with 0.9% NaCl. At 90 days the Lee Index is calculated to determine the body weight, then they are paired in 4 groups of 5 mice where males and females are interbreed with GMS and 0.9% NaCl. The weight of the offspring in these crosses is compared to indirectly assess lactation.
Results: 100% of mice treated with MSG are obese because they have a Lee Index higher than 0.300. The females with GMS give birth to less than 4 offspring while the females (NaCl) mate with males (GMS) have an average offspring of 4-5 offspring. The weight of the offspring born of parents treated with MSG is lower than those not treated.
Conclusions: MSG administered subcutaneously in murine neonates induces obesity. Reproduction and lactation are affected in those treated with MSG since the number of offspring and the body weight of their offspring is lower than that of the untreated.