title: Long-term effects of early malnutrition on body weight regulation.
abstract: Malnutrition is still highly prevalent in developing countries. Studies have shown an increase in the number of obese individuals in very poor urban communities. This review shows a co-existence between malnutrition and obesity in households of slums in Brazil and a higher prevalence of stunted/overweight or obese individuals (30%) in comparison with stunted/underweight (16%). These conditions are associated with important metabolic changes. Results from stunted children showed higher susceptibility to the effects of higher fats diets, lower fat oxidation, higher central fat, and higher body fat gain. A model to explain how early malnutrition alters energy balance in adults is outlined. In the presence of a relative food intake insufficiency, a higher cortisol:insulin ratio, associated with lower levels of IGF-1 will lead to lower muscle gain and linear growth, impaired lypolysis and fat oxidation. When these hormonal changes are combined with a higher fat/carbohydrate and/or marked decreased in physical activity, obesity with short stature will occur.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Disciplina de Neurofisiologia e Fisiologia Endócrina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 862, 2nd floor, São Paulo, Capital, Brazil, CEP: 04023-060.
authors.forename: Ana Lydia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sawaya
authors.forename: Paula A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Luciane P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Grillo
authors.forename: Telma T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Florêncio
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011203:Poverty