Objectives: To study the association between physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) and cardio‐respiratory fitness (CRF) with key metabolic traits and anthropometric measures in the Tarahumara of Mexico.Methods: A cross‐sectional study was carried out in five rural communities in Chihuahua, México including 64 adult Tarahumara, mean (SD) age 40.7 (12.9) years. Using a combined accelerometer and heart rate sensor, PAEE was measured over three consecutive days and nights and a sub‐maximal step test was carried out in order to (1) calibrate heart rate at the individual level and (2) to estimate CRF. Random blood glucose level and resting blood pressure (BP) were measured with standard anthropometrics.Results: Mean (SD) PAEE was 71.2 (30.3) kJ kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ and CRF was 36.6 (6.5) mlO₂ min⁻¹ kg⁻¹. Mean (SD) glucose was 127.9 (32.4) mg/dl, with 3.3% having diabetes. Mean (SD) systolic and diastolic BP was 122 (20.8) and 82 (14.8) mm Hg, respectively, with 28.1% having hypertension. Mean body mass index was 27.5 (4.2) kg m⁻², with 71.9% being overweight. Following adjustment for age and sex, weak inverse associations were observed between PAEE and systolic BP (β = −0.20, P = 0.27) and diastolic BP (β = −0.16, P = 0.23); and between CRF and systolic BP (β = −0.51, P = 0.14) and diastolic BP (β = −0.53, P = 0.06). The inverse associations with glucose were also weak and not statistically significant for neither PAEE (β = −0.01, P = 0.63) nor CRF (β = −0.05, P = 0.27).Conclusions: This study suggests high levels of overweight and hypertension in the Tarahumara, and points to fitness and physical activity as potential intervention targets although findings should be confirmed in larger samples. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2012.

OBJECTIVE: To study overweight and aerobic fitness among children in the third and fourth grades of elementary schools in a city in the United States of America (El Paso, Texas) and a city in Mexico (Chihuahua, Chihuahua) that are on or near the border between those two countries, and to compare the results from those two cities with earlier findings for other children in the United States. METHODS: We followed the El Paso children (427 boys and 385 girls, 93% of them of Mexican descent) from third to fourth grade and assessed the change in their body mass index (BMI). In the city of Chihuahua we cross-sectionally measured the BMI of a sample of third grade children (221 boys and 237 girls) and a sample of fourth grade children (268 boys and 215 girls). BMI and triceps skinfolds were measured for all the children studied in the two cities. BMI was used to assess risk for overweight (at least the 85th percentile BMI for age and gender) and overweight (at least the 95th percentile BMI for age and gender) in all the children. The distance that El Paso children ran in nine minutes was used to assess their aerobic fitness (aerobic fitness was not measured in the Chihuahua children). The data from El Paso were collected in 1999, 2000, and 2001, and the Chihuahua data were collected in 2000 and 2001. RESULTS: In the El Paso boys, overweight significantly increased in the one year from third grade to fourth grade, from 22% to 28%, while risk for overweight significantly increased, from 37% to 44%. In the El Paso girls, risk for overweight significantly increased over the same one-year period, from 29% to 37%. The El Paso boys and girls were significantly less fit when compared to samples of children from throughout the United States. Third and fourth grade children from Chihuahua had similar rates of risk for overweight and of overweight when compared to the children from the same grades in El Paso. CONCLUSIONS: Children in both El Paso and Chihuahua were more overweight than were non-Hispanic white children throughout the United States. In addition, the children in El Paso were less aerobically fit than were non-Hispanic white children and than were other Mexican-American children in the United States. These results clearly show that efforts should be made in the border regions of both Mexico and the United States to develop physical activity and nutrition programs to help stem rising rates of overweight.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the National Cholesterol Education Program at the III Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATPIII), have proposed criteria for the Metabolic Syndrome (MS) diagnosis in adolescents. This study determines the MS prevalence and its link to other parameters (uric acid, platelets, and blood type) in adolescents of 12-16 years. A descriptive and transversal study, using IDF, NCEP-ATPIII criteria and proposed criteria (PC). Sample consisted of 246 adolescents, according to the IDF the MS prevalence was 3.25%, 6.5% according to the NCEP-ATPIII and 21.54% for the proposed criteria, being women and Mennonites the most affected. Levels of uric acid, platelets and the Rh factor did not show any link with MS, unlike the blood type. The application of different diagnosis criteria, would mean not properly identifying the presence of this syndrome. La Federación Internacional de Diabetes (FID) y el Programa Nacional de Educación en Colesterol (National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III)) han propuesto criterios para el diagnóstico de Síndrome Metabólico (SM) en adolescentes. Este trabajo determina la prevalencia de SM y su relación con otros parámetros (ácido úrico, plaquetas y tipo sanguíneo) en adolescentes de 12-16 años. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal, empleando criterios de la FID, NCEP-ATPIII y criterios propuestos (CP). De la muestra conformada por 246 adolescentes, la prevalencia de SM, según la FID, fue de 3.25%, 6.5% para la NCEP-ATPIII y 21.54% con los criterios propuestos, siendo las mujeres y los menonitas los más afectados. Niveles de ácido úrico, plaquetas y el factor Rh no mostraron relación con SM, a diferencia del tipo sanguíneo. La aplicación de distintos criterios diagnósticos puede significar el no identificar adecuadamente la presencia de este síndrome.

The WHO identifies high BMI, high blood pressure, and high fasting plasma glucose as chronic disease risk factors, whereas physical fitness is identified as a protective behavioral factor. This study responds to the rising interest in assessing metabolic factors and physical activity within young populations of Mestizo, Tarahumara, and Mennonite from Chihuahua Mexico, due to its strong relationship with disease development and low well-being. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 201 teenagers from rural towns in Northern Mexico, and relationships between physical fitness and cardio-metabolic risk related to anthropometric, glycolipid, and vascular function factors were assessed. ANOVA-tested differences among ethnic groups using physical fitness as a grouping variable and measures of cardio-metabolic risks were used as dependent variables. A stepwise regression analysis allowed us to identify the best predictors for physical fitness. Clinical risk factors were analyzed by ethnic group and sex. No differences were found among ethnic groups in physical fitness and cardio-metabolic health risks; sex differentiated higher health risks related to behavioral factors, since young women showed lower physical fitness across ethnicities. Clinically, the Mestizo sample showed higher numbers of individuals with one risk factor. Mennonites showed a high frequency of anthropometric and fitness health risks with low glycolipid and vascular risks. Tarahumara had fewer risk factors as compared with both Mestizo and Mennonite. Rural populations are harder to reach, both for health assessment and intervention; health professionals must work close to local community organizations to gain access.

En el estado de Chihuahua, y en particular en la frontera de Ciudad Juárez-El Paso, el desempleo-subempleo es un problema tanto por el impacto personal sobre el joven profesional que se incorpora con dificultad al mercado laboral como por el impacto económico en la comunidad que ya ha invertido en la formación de recursos humanos especializados. En Nutriendo vidas: haciendo historia en la nutrición se identifican las ocupaciones a las que acceden los egresados del Programa de Licenciatura en Nutrición de la Univeridad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, así como los facilitadores y las barreras que enfrentan para insertarse a la fuerza de trabajo. El estudio cuantitativo se complementa con las historias de vida de profesionistas que han conseguido inspirar a otras en los diversos campos que la nutrición ofrece: nutrición clínica, investigación, docencia, nutrición comunitaria, servicios de alimentos, salud pública, administración de empresas, entre otros.