Prevalence of overweight and hunger among Mexican children from migrant parents.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of risk of overweight, overweight, and the perception of hunger among Mexican children from Indian and migrant parents over the periods of 2001 and 2003.


METHODS
A total of 1,200 and 1,452 children were measured to assess anthropometric status and their perception of hunger experience.


RESULTS
There was no difference between 2001 and 2003 in the total prevalence of risk of overweight and overweight in either boys or girls. The prevalence of abdominal obesity is higher in the 2003 group than in the 2001 group among girls older than 9y (p < 0.001). During 2003, the risk of hunger was higher (58%) than in 2001 (46%).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence shown in our study is alarming since these children suffering from food insecurity have higher risk to develop obesity and diabetes during adulthood, particularly if they show rapid catch-up fat after periods of economic recession.
Jiménez-Cruz
A
A
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, México. ajimenez@uabc.mx
Bacardí Gascón
M
M
D002648:Child; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D050177:Overweight; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors