Abstract

POU, Sonia A.; WIRTZ BAKER, Julia M  and  ABALLAY, Laura R. Obesity epidemic: current evidence, challenges and future directions. Medicina (B. Aires) [online]. 2023, vol.83, n.2, pp.283-289. ISSN 0025-7680.

The obesity epidemic is a phenomenon that has been widely studied in recent decades but is still incompletely understood, and its control is far from the desirable level in view of the increasing prevalence figures observed worldwide. This paper conducts a narrative review with the aim of providing updated evidence on the global obesity epidemic, and particularly on the situation in Latin America and Argentina, identifying the main chal lenges and future directions for addressing this public health problem. It first describes the current burden and increasing trends in the prevalence of obesity, in the overall population and by population groups, and its pos sible association with genetic and epigenetic aspects. It also summarizes the direct and indirect socioeconomic consequences of this epidemic, as well as recent strate gies and initiatives focused on obesity prevention, with special attention to those reported as the most efficient in the Latin American context. This review identified some pending challenges in the region, the integrated approach to the double burden of malnutrition and the growing childhood overweight; and it points out some emerging approaches, such as the syndemic approach, as potentially useful to understand and address this complex problem in the current context. In conclusion, it highlights the importance of implementing renewed, more efficient and evidence-based strategies to control the growing prevalence of obesity, which would also impact on the burden of related chronic diseases, and thus on the economy and well-being of Latin American societies.

Keywords : Overweight; Prevention; Obesity preva lence; Latin America; Argentina.