Prevalence of Childhood Obesity by Sex and Regions in Peru, 2015.
OBJECTIVE
Childhood obesity is a global problem, sociodemographic and cultural factors influence its presence. An analysis of disparities in the prevalence of childhood obesity in Peru was made by sex and region in 2015.


METHODS
Analysis of the information reported by the Sistema de Información del Estado Nutricional of the number of obesity cases in 2,336,791 children under five years, evaluated in public health facilities during 2015. The distribution of obesity cases was analyzed by sex and region of residence, also a spatial projection of the regional prevalence of obesity and the prevalence differences between men and women was performed.


RESULTS
Data from 2,336,791 children under five was analyzed. An obesity prevalence of 1.52% (girls: 1.3% and boys: 1.7%) was found; the highest prevalence were observed in urban areas (girls: 1.5% and boys: 1.9%) and on the Costa (girls: 1.9% and boys: 2.5%). Highest prevalence of obesity were in Tacna (girls: 3.2% y boys: 3.9%), Moquegua (girls: 2.4% y boys: 3.1%) and Callao (girls: 2.3% y boys: 2.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Childhood obesity predominates on the coast and in urban areas of Peru particularly among boys. The regions of higher prevalence of obesity were Tacna Moquegua and Callao.
Universidad de Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires. Argentina.akram.hernandez.v@upch.pe.
Akram
A
Hernández-Vásquez
Facultad de Salud Pública y Administración. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Lima. Perú
Guido
G
Bendezú-Quispe
Universidad de Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires. Argentina.
Marilina
M
Santero
Instituto de Investigación - Universidad Católica los Ángeles de Chimbote. Chimbote. Perú.
Diego
D
Azañedo
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors
Child; Child Nutrition Disorders; Child, Preschool; Geographic Information Systems; Health Information Systems; Obesity; Peru