Background: Obesity is common among children and teenagers and is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in the adult age. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the association between the percentage of body fat and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents in the city of Bucaramanga, Colombia. Material and Methods: About 494 children and adolescents aged 10–20 years were studied. Laboratory tests were made for analyzing cardiovascular risk factors and anthropometric measurements. Percentage body fat was determined with Slaughter equation. Lineal regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between cardiometabolic risk factors and the percentage body fat. Results: Prevalence of percentage body fat (>26%) was 46.1%. Variables associated with percentage body fat were HOMA-IR – insulin resistance, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. Conclusions: Increase in percentage body fat is significantly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents in Bucaramanga. Early identification and intervention of this population at risk is fundamental.

The objective of this study was to estimate inequalities in the consumption of fruits and vegetables. A multilevel study was performed based on cross-sectional data of adults from 18 to 64 years of age (n = 5,217) and in geodemographic units (n = 33). The consumption of fruits and vegetables was estimated with a food frequency questionnaire administered as part of the 2010 Colombian National Nutrition Survey (ENSIN). Inequality indices for the consumption of whole fruits and fruit juice and for raw and cooked vegetables were estimated using data on wealth, food security, geographical area and monetary poverty. The prevalence of the consumption of cooked vegetables was 64.8% (95%CI: 59.2-70.4) among men and the prevalence of the consumption of fruit juice was 86.1% (95%CI: 82.4-89.8) among women. The frequency of the consumption of fruit juice was 1.03 times/day (95%CI: 0.93-1.14) among women. The prevalence and frequency fruits and vegetables consumption per day for the three socioeconomic variables considered in this study are higher according to the higher socioeconomic level (p < 0.05), except for the consumption frequency of whole fruits/day (p = 0.24). At the individual level, the Gini coefficient for frequency/day ranged from 0.51 to 0.62. At the ecological level, the Gini index for prevalence ranged from 0.04 to 0.14; and for frequency/day ranged from 0.03 to 0.11. The Colombian population does not meet fruits and vegetables consumption recommendations. Men and women favor the consumption of fruit juice over whole fruits. The inequality in vegetable consumption is clear, with men at a disadvantage. The poor eat fewer fruits and vegetables.

This study was aimed at establishing displaced and local children's alimentary patterns amongst the school-age population from the Guatiguará area (Piedecuesta) and correlating their nutritional state with chosen socioeconomic and nutritional factors. This descriptive transversal study of 89 displaced and local school-aged children (6 to 12 years of age) from the Guatiguará area (population=258) was carried out in 2004. Data was collected from socio-demographic and nutritional surveys as well as a food intake questionnaire (SICI). Twenty-four hour dietary recall, standardised kitchen item games and photographic models of the size of food portions were also used. The children's height and weight were measured. SICI, Excel, Epi Info 6.04d and Stata 8.0 software were used for processing the data. Nutritional state (weight per age - W/A) was as follows: 25,8 % deficit and 14,6 % risk of deficit. Low vegetable, fruit and protein consumption was found. The lowest percentages regarding consumption of needed items pertained to calcium, vitamin B6, iron, zinc and niacin. The relationship between receiving a monthly family income of less than Col $150 000 and nutritional deficit was (OR=2.76 CI(95 %) 0,92-8,44, p=0,040). Nutritional deficit protection factors consisted of having an employed mother (OR=0.29 CI(95 %) 0,09-0,84, p=0,012) and families having 2 or 3 employed members covering household expenses (OR=0.17 CI(95 %) 0,03-0,69 p=0,0052). Selected socioeconomic factors influenced the studied population's alimentary pattern and nutritional state.

Objetivo: Evaluar la asociación entre el consumo de frutas y verduras, tabaquismo y consumo perjudicial de alcohol y la actividad física en cada dominio en estudiantes universitarios de Bucaramanga, Colombia. Metodología: Estudio analítico de corte transversal en estudiantes (n=385) de una universidad privada de Bucaramanga, en el año 2016. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos, bivariados y múltiples usando modelos de regresión logística. Para la recolección de la información se aplicó el cuestionario para la vigilancia de factores de riesgo de enfermedades crónicas de la Organización Mundial de la salud. Se solicitó el consentimiento informado por escrito a los participantes. Resultados: El 39,48% de los estudiantes participantes eran físicamente inactivos. El 52,21% presentó consumo excesivo episódico de alcohol. El 16,88% fuma de manera regular y el 87,21% reportó un bajo consumo de frutas y verduras. Después de ajustar por sexo, edad y nivel socioeconómico, la actividad física en el tiempo libre resultó asociada con el bajo consumo de frutas y verduras (OR: 0,48, IC 95%: 0,24, 0,96, p=0,040). Conclusiones: Los estudiantes que realizan más actividad física durante el tiempo libre tienen menor probabilidad de presentar bajo consumo de frutas y verduras. Es importante implementar estrategias que promuevan la adquisición de hábitos de vida saludable en población universitaria con el fi n de disminuir el riesgo futuro de padecer enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles.