Abstract

LOPEZ-ALARCON, Mardia G.  and  RODRIGUEZ-CRUZ, Maricela. Epidemiology and genetics of overweight and obesity: Mexico in the world context. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2008, vol.65, n.6, pp.421-430. ISSN 1665-1146.

Obesity rates have drastically increased worldwide, particularly in women in reproductive-age as well as in children. This is relevant for the challenges that the health system will face in the near future. Recently, national surveys in Mexico and United States have shown a moderate decrease in the acceleration rates of obesity. Hopefully such behavior reflects results from preventive programs, or perhaps is due to methodological unidentified issues. Importantly, such decrease seems insufficient to reach the "ideal" prevalence of obesity. From the genetic point of view, based in the presence of the R230C polymorphism in the ABCA1 gene identified only in Amerindian populations it seems that some ethnic groups might be more susceptible to develop obesity. However, it is important to take into account that susceptibility may also be explained by interactions among variants in different genes. In conclusion, obesity prevalence in Mexico is close to those in developed countries, and it is particularly alarming in adolescents and women in reproductive-age. Evidence suggests that Mexican population might present a higher susceptibility, but more studies are needed.

Keywords : Obesity; prevalence; R230C; polymorphism; gene, ABCA1.

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