Few studies have evaluated and contrasted the lifestyles and quality of life of university students by academic discipline. We compared university students’ lifestyle and quality of life, and schools’ compliance with health promotion guidelines. Then, needs were ranked and prioritized. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in a public university in Northeastern Mexico. Higher education students with no visual or hearing impairment from six different academic disciplines were included (N = 5443). A self-administered and anonymous questionnaire was applied that included the HPLP (Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile) and SF-12 scales. A check list was employed for measuring 26 on-site schools’ compliance with health promotion guidelines, and needs were ranked using Z-scores. The mean lifestyle was 53.9 ± 14.8 and the mean quality of life was 69.7 ± 5. Men had healthier lifestyles with more exercise and better stress management. The mean compliance with health promotion guidelines was 58.7%. Agricultural Sciences students had the highest need for improving both lifestyle and quality of life. Arts, Education, and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, and Social and Administrative Sciences schools ranked first in need for health promotion actions. The methodology used allowed hierarchization of areas requiring planning and implementation of specific actions, and the results indicated that healthy lifestyles and quality of life should be a priority.

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has multiple benefits for both the child and the mother; however, there is little data regarding the reason why Mexican mothers with a high socio-economic level abandon EBF before 6 months, and there is limited information about the practice of breastfeeding in private hospitals. The objective was to identify the factors associated with the cessation of exclusive breastfeeding in Mexican mothers at two private hospitals.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 218 upper-class mothers selected according to their place of residence by geographic location, socio-economic level, and pediatric consultations cost. They were over 18 years old and with children aged 6 to 24 months.Data were collected between July and November 2016 by face to face interview using a structured questionnaire while the mothers waited for the pediatric postnatal care consultation in two private hospitals in northeastern Mexico. Exclusive breastfeeding was measured according to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, which consist of providing only breast milk for the first 6 months of life. Chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regression were performed.Results: Mean maternal age was 31.4 years (SD of 4.4) and most of the participants had an undergraduate education, were married, and worked outside the home. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months was 28%. Upper-class working mothers are less likely to continue breastfeeding. There was a negative association with employment (AOR 13.69; 95% CI 1.59, 111.11), bottle use in the first 6 months (AOR 7.93; 95% CI 3.07, 20.48), and a low level of knowledge (AOR 2.18; 95% CI 1.04, 4.56). After 6 months, only 61 mothers (28%) maintained exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusions: Knowledge level, bottle use, and employment are associated with premature cessation of EBF in Mexican upper-class mothers, attending two private hospitals. There was a high percentage of breastfeeding cessation in the sample. It is necessary to reinforce a strategy that coordinates the action of the different laws, regulations and programs affecting the exclusive breastfeeding practice, in order to adequately promote breastfeeding and support mothers in both public and private sectors.

Currently, Mexico holds one of the top rankings in childhood obesity worldwide. This present qualitative study aims to explore and describe mothers' perceptions concerning the body weight of their children and, based on these findings, be able to arrive at a typology. Research included 91 semi-structured interviews administered to mothers of children who were underweight (UW), normal weight (NW), overweight (OW) or obese (OB). The data were collected between June 2011 and December 2013. The information was analysed with MAXQDA qualitative software. It was found that overestimated perception in UW children is observed in mothers who fear gaining weight. Mothers of NW children tend to gauge the weight of their children close to that which is normal. OW children are appropriately perceived by their mothers; however, these mothers are not concerned by this situation because for them, it is something temporary that will disappear as the child grows. The majority of boys who were OB were underestimated in their weight; those who were appropriately perceived showed class II or III obesity. Mothers typically perceived OW and OB girls with greater precision. The mothers who perceived obesity in their sons or daughters felt responsible, which motivated them to change their children's habits and behaviours. Therefore, health professionals should communicate and help these mothers recognise OW and OB status in their children. Furthermore, the importance of prevention should be stressed when a child is OW, and they should be informed of the high health risks that accompany obesity.

Mexican schoolchildren are among the individuals most affected by obesity in the world. It has been observed that body-image dissatisfaction has increased in children. We evaluated their body weight perception and its relationship with actual weight; we compared this variable on three different scales according to age and sex and determined the sensitivity and specificity of these scales. This cross-sectional study was conducted with students from public and private schools in Northeastern Mexico. Boys and girls aged 6–12 years (n = 533) were included in this study. To assess the body weight perception, the following scales were used: (A) Collins (figure rating scale), (B) Eckstein (parents’ perceptions of their child’s weight and health scale), and (C) Truby and Paxton (children’s body image scale). Agreement was evaluated using the Cohen’s kappa test, determining the sensitivity and specificity. Girls and children aged 10–12 years were more likely to perceive themselves adequately (their self-perception corresponds to the figure that indicates their weight status). The children showed increased body-image distortion in the three scales. In terms of sensitivity and specificity, children with overweight or obesity were more precisely identified in scale A, whereas a healthy weight was more clearly identified in scale C.

El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar las percepciones maternas sobre las prácticas alimentarias de niños en edad escolar que presentan diferente estado nutricional residentes en el área metropolitana de Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. Se realizó un estudio cualitativo fenomenológico, mediante entrevistas semi-estructuradas a 91 madres de familia con un hijo entre 6 y 11 años de edad, durante el año 2015 y 2017. Los resultados evidenciaron que las madres de familia fueron las responsables de la adquisición y preparación de las comidas aun cuando tuvieran un empleo. Para la elaboración de los alimentos la madre cocinó según los gustos de la familia siendo esto una forma de expresarles su cariño. Las emociones de las madres con respecto a la aceptación de los alimentos, los gustos, rechazos y el número de comidas diarias que realizan los hijos, varió dependiendo del estado nutricional. La alimentación durante los días de la semana fue diferente a la de los fines de semana. Las prácticas alimentarias fueron parte de acontecimientos y significados sociales aprendidos por las madres de familia y que no siempre estuvieron acorde con los cánones nutricionales establecidos por los expertos.