Occupational exposure to pesticides and symptoms of depression in agricultural workers. A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The use of pesticides can result in harm to both the environment and human health. There is a growing concern in the field of occupational health about the impact on the mental health of agricultural workers. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to systematize scientific evidence from the last ten years on the impact of occupational exposure to pesticides on the development of depression symptoms in agricultural workers. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search in the PubMed and Scopus databases from 2011 to September 2022. Our search included studies in English, Spanish, and Portuguese that examined the association between occupational exposure to pesticides and symptoms of depression in agricultural workers, following the guidelines recommended by the PRISMA statement and the PECO strategy (Population, Exposure, Comparison, and Outcomes). RESULTS: Among the 27 articles reviewed, 78% of them indicated a link between exposure to pesticides and the incidence of depression symptoms. The pesticides most frequently reported in the studies were organophosphates (17 studies), herbicides (12 studies), and pyrethroids (11 studies). The majority of the studies were rated as having intermediate to intermediate-high quality, with the use of standardized measures to assess both exposure and effect. CONCLUSION: The updated evidence presented in our review indicates a clear association between pesticide exposure and the development of depressive symptoms. However, more high-quality longitudinal studies are necessary to control for sociocultural variables and utilize pesticide-specific biomarkers and biomarkers of depression. Given the increased use of these chemicals and the health risks associated with depression, it is crucial to implement more stringent measures to monitor the mental health of agricultural workers regularly exposed to pesticides and to enhance surveillance of companies that apply these chemicals.

Evaluación de un programa integral de tratamiento de obesidad y sobrepeso en niños escolares y adolescentes en Santiago de Chile (1999-2006) / Assessment of a multidisciplinary program for the treatment of obesity in children

Background: Medical treatment of obesity requires a multidisciplinary approach including dietary, exercise and behavioral interventions. Aim: To report the results of a multidisciplinary program for the treatment of obesity in children. Patients and Methods: Three hundred twenty four children (155 males), aged between 5 and 18 year, were treated with diet, exercise and behavioral modification, between 1999 and 2006. At baseline and at the end of follow up, weight, height, z score for body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and features of the metabolic syndrome were assessed. Results: z scores for IMC decreased by 0.28 points (95 percent confidence intervals: -0.31 to -0.25). Sixty percent of patients achieved a weight reduction of 5 percent of more of their initial weight. In a multiple linear regression model, weight loss was directly associated with the follow up time and inversely associated with the initial waist circumference. Patients had a reduction of 0.05 z score points of BMI per month (95 percent confidence intervals –0.07 to –0.025; p < 0.001), while adhering to the program. The overall compliance with the three months treatment period was 59 percent. Conclusions: In children and teenagers, a multidisciplinary management of obesity achieves a sustained weight loss, that ifs proportional to the lapse of adherence to the program.