Tito Pizarro

Uno de los desafíos para la implementación de acciones orientadas a promover hábitos saludables en establecimientos escolares (EE) es la articulación entre los actores relevantes del entorno escolar. Objetivo. Caracterizar y analizar las redes de colaboración intersectorial entre actores involucrados en la promoción de estilos de vida saludables en seis escuelas, con énfasis en alimentación saludable y actividad física. Metodología. Se utilizó la metodología Net-Map, combinando entrevistas participativas grupales con Análisis de Redes Sociales y mapeo de la influencia percibida. Se realizaron nueve entrevistas con profesionales y apoderadas de seis escuelas del área sur de Santiago, Chile. Se generaron redes por entrevista, por grupo y una red integrada. Las relaciones fueron ponderadas según su frecuencia de mención. Los actores fueron representados por nodos y los vínculos por líneas y flechas. Resultados. Se incluyeron 51 participantes, distribuidos entre profesionales de EE (64,7 %) y apoderadas (35,3 %). La red integrada presentó 25 actores, 210 conexiones, una densidad de 0,35 y una distancia promedio de 1,68 pasos. Los apoderados y apoderadas, los medios de comunicación, el equipo directivo, las universidades y los estudiantes presentaron los mayores valores de centralidad de grado total. Conclusiones. La configuración relacional representada en los mapas construidos por los grupos participantes permite identificar oportunidades para fortalecer la articulación entre los actores escolares y familiares, así como con otros sectores. En conjunto, estos resultados aportan información para orientar acciones intersectoriales más integradas y fortalecer su implementación en los niveles escolar y territorial.

Background: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chilean schoolchildren represents a significant public health challenge, impacting their physical performance and overall well-being. Objective: To analyze the relationship between body weight and physical capacities in schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years from highly vulnerable public schools in Santiago, Chile. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 154 students from three public schools, assessing nutritional status, physical fitness (handgrip strength, standing long jump, 4x10m shuttle run test), and motor capacity. Correlations were analyzed using Spearman’s coefficient. Results: A prevalence of overweight and obesity of 42.8% was found. Children with obesity had significantly lower performance in the standing long jump compared to normal weight peers (p = 0.016). Handgrip strength showed moderate correlations with weight and height but low functional relevance. The standing long jump test demonstrated a moderate correlation with handgrip strength and agility, supporting its value as a screening tool for motor function. Conclusions: Excess weight negatively impacts functional strength in schoolchildren, particularly in explosive tasks such as the standing long jump. Despite the absence of differences in overall motor capacity across BMI groups, the low general motor capacity observed highlights the need for school-based programs promoting motor skill development and physical activity. Play-based and high-intensity strength training activities in schools represent a feasible strategy to enhance children’s physical health and quality of life.

Background/Objectives: Adolescents in Latin America are experiencing rising rates of overweight/obesity and non-communicable diseases, while public health nutrition efforts targeting this group remain limited. This study explores adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and its relationship with micronutrient adequacy and ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption. Methods: Cross-sectional data from national nutrition surveys of 19,601 adolescents across six Latin American countries were analyzed. Data on sociodemographics, anthropometrics, and dietary habits were collected using standardized questionnaires and 24 h dietary recalls or food records. Nutrient intake was estimated via statistical modeling, and nutrient adequacy ratios were based on age- and sex-specific requirements. UPF intake was classified using the NOVA system, and adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was assessed with the Planetary Health Diet Index. Results: Overall adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was low (mean score: 28.3%). Rural adolescents had higher adherence than urban adolescents, and those aged 10–13 and 17–19 showed better adherence compared to adolescents aged 14–16. Adolescents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds adhered more than those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Adherence varied from 20.2% in Argentina to 30.2% in Brazil and Chile. Higher adherence was associated with lower UPF intake. Among urban adolescents, greater adherence was linked to a higher risk of inadequate riboflavin, niacin, and cobalamin intake, a trend not observed in rural adolescents. Conclusions: Adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet is low among Latin American adolescents, particularly in urban areas. Public health efforts should prioritize reducing UPF consumption, improving access to nutrient-dense, culturally appropriate foods, and supporting fortified staple foods.

En Chile la malnutrición por exceso continúa en aumento, afectando especialmente a la población infantil. Solucionar esta problemática de salud pública requiere desarrollar estrategias de promoción y prevención que consideren las propuestas de las comunidades, especialmente la de los propios niños y niñas. Objetivo: Conocer las opiniones y sugerencias de niños y niñas de tercero y cuarto básico de escuelas de la zona sur de Santiago de Chile, respecto de sus prácticas alimentarias y de actividad física, en el marco del proyecto FONDEF IT 1810016. Sujetos y Método: Se desarrollaron siete parlamentos escolares en siete escuelas mediante una metodología cualitativa participativa, recogiendo las opiniones de 176 niños y niñas acerca de sus hábitos y preferencias tanto de alimentos como de actividad física. Resultados: Los alimentos más consumidos y preferidos son aquellos fáciles de preparar y de alta disponibilidad, como pan, tallarines y leche. Los alimentos que requieren preparación, como pescado, legumbres, frutas, verduras y preparaciones caseras, son menos consumidos y tienen menos preferencia. En las actividades físicas recreativas destacan los videojuegos y el fútbol. Los estudiantes proponen aumentar las horas de educación física, los recreos y mejorar la disponibilidad y acceso a alimentos saludables en los entornos escolares como estrategia de solución al problema de la malnutrición por exceso. Conclusiones: Los Parlamentos Escolares como estrategia participativa aportan en la generación conjunta de conocimiento. La necesidad de incluir a las comunidades como partes interesadas en las iniciativas de salud, reconoce a través de su participación, a los niños y las niñas como actores sujetos de derechos.

The analysis of the food environment is used to identify areas with gaps in the availability of healthy foods and can be used as a public policy assessment tool. In recent decades, Chile has implemented several strategies and regulations to improve food environments, with encouraging results. Little is known about the scope of these measures in socially vulnerable environments. This study is part of a project that seeks to build an integrated intervention model for healthy school environments in a vulnerable area of Santiago, Chile. The objective of this study was to evaluate the availability of healthy and unhealthy foods around schools and the relationship between it and socioeconomic determinants of the school community in the Chilean context. A cross-sectional study to measure the food environment of informal markets (street food), formal markets (stores), and institutions (schools) was conducted in and around 12 schools (100 m surrounding schools) in a vulnerable urban area of Santiago, Chile. A lack of healthy foods was observed, which was related to some socio-economic determinants and the multidimensional poverty was the most relevant. The diagnosis of food environments around schools can represent an important target for governments to implement policies focused at improving the availability of healthy foods.

Revista oficial de la Sociedad Española de Nutrición Parenteral y de la Sociedad Española de Nutrición. Está dedicada al estudio y divulgación de temas relacionados con la nutrición.

En Chile, el Ministerio de Salud (MINSAL) con-firma el primer caso de coronavirus (COVID-19) los primeros días de marzo de 2020, y al 24 de julio se había registrado un total de 341.304 casos acumulados, con un total de fallecidos de 8.914, cifras que aumentan día a día² .

In Chile, the migrant population has increased in the last years. Migrants adopt behaviors of this new culture, which can have an effect on their health. Contradictory results regarding differences between migrant and native children have been reported. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between nationality with health indicator and lifestyle habits among schoolchildren in Chile. A cross-sectional and observational study with a non-probabilistic sample was conducted in 1033 children (86.4% Chilean and 13.6% migrant) from second to fourth grade of seven public schools from low-income municipalities from the Metropolitan Region, Chile. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference, triceps and subscapular folds), handgrip strength, and standing long jump measurements, physical activity, self-esteem and food guidelines accomplishments were determined. Migrant children presented lower body mass index (BMI), Z-BMI, body fat% and waist circumference values; and higher handgrip strength, standing long jump, and more satisfactory compliance with food guidelines than natives (p < 0.05). No significant difference for physical activity and self-esteem was observed. In the adjusted models, migrants presented lower odds for overweight/obesity, risk of abdominal obesity, low handgrip strength and unsatisfactory food guidelines accomplishment in all models (p < 0.05). The nutritional and muscular fitness of migrant children was better than that of the Chilean ones.

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between muscular strength from upper and lower limbs with self-esteem among Chilean schoolchildren, drawing independent associations with body composition indicators. The sample consisted of 1078 schoolchildren. The muscular strength of the upper and lower limbs was evaluated using a digital dynamometer and long jump performance. The general strength index was calculated based on Z-score values. Rosenberg’s test was used to determine the level of self-esteem of participants. Body fat and body mass index were employed as body composition indicators. Boys had significantly more upper and lower strength, and a general strength index higher than girls (11.7 vs. 10.6; 109.7 vs. 97.4; 0.19 vs. −0.24, respectively). For boys and girls combined, there were no significant associations between all muscular strength variables and self-esteem. In boys, upper and lower limb strength was positively associated with self-esteem. In girls, no association between muscular strength and self-esteem was found. In both sexes, the general strength index was not associated with self-esteem. Strategies and programs that promote mental health and muscular strength among schoolchildren, specifically in boys, are needed.

Chile has implemented several strategies to decrease the burden of obesity and chronic diseases. The Food Labeling and Advertising Law (Law 20.606) requires a front-of-package “high in” warning label when energy and nutrients of concern (ENC) (total sugar, saturated fats, sodium) exceed established limits. This study aims to evaluate the impact of Law 20.606 on the ENC declaration of packaged foods in Chile, before and after the law implementation. We analyzed food nutritional labeling declarations from 70% of the most consumed packaged foods in Chile. Data collection was conducted in 2013 and 2019 in Santiago. Pictures from all sides of the package were taken from 476 products, classified into 16 food groups. All food groups had changes in the ENC declaration during the study period. Total sugar content showed the highest reduction (−15.0%; p = 0.001). Dairy, confitures and similar and sugary beverages had the greatest reduction in energy and total sugar content (p < 0.01). Energy, total sugar and sodium front of package “high in” simulation was significantly reduced in dairy, sugary beverages, flour-based foods, confitures and similar, fish and seafoods, fats and oils, spices, condiments and sauces and sugars (p < 0.05). We observed that companies reformulated products to adapt to the new regulation.