Association between built environment and physical activity in Latin American countries: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between the physical activity level and the built environment by accessibility, microinfrastructure and security in Latin America (LA). DESIGN: We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study to collect physical activity and built environment data. The levels of physical activity were calculated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire survey. Using the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale-Abbreviated, characteristics of the built environment were measured through three domains: accessibility, microinfrastructure and security. To estimate the association of the built environment and physical activity, we used mixed effects logistic regression analysis. In addition, likelihood ratio test to account for clustered effect within countries and/or cities was used. SETTING: Eight countries in LA. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 15-65 years (n=9218) living in urban areas and consented to participate of the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health. RESULTS: Most of the population in LA had access to a grocery store (97.2%), public transport stop (91.5%) and children's playground (81.6%). Metropolitan parks were more accessible in Ecuador (59.8%) and Colombia (59.2%) than in Venezuela (33.5%). Individuals located within 20 min of walking from sport facilities or children's playground areas were more likely to perform moderate-to-high physical activity OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.36) and OR 1.25 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.53), respectively. Only 14.5% of the population from the region considered that their neighbourhood had an adequate design for walking or cycling. Likewise, among adults living in LA, only 39.75% had the perception of living in a safe neighbourhood. CONCLUSIONS: This multicentre study shows that currently, LA built environment does not promote physical activity in the region. Our findings provide the rationale to push forward, at regional and national levels, policies and interventions that will help to achieve a safe, healthy and friendly built environment to encourage participation in active recreation and sports in leisure time. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02226627.

Análisis sensorial de bebidas extrudidas por niños preescolares de escasos recursos económicos en tres regiones del Ecuador y su relación con el estado nutricional / Sensory analysis of beverages extruded by preschool children of scarce economic resources in three regions of Ecuador and its relationship with nutritional status

Introducción: El análisis sensorial relacionado con el estado nutricional conlleva a una nueva visión en el desarrollo de alimentos para poblaciones infantiles con deficiencias nutricionales. Objetivo: Evaluar el nivel de agrado de cuatro prototipos de coladas empleando dos escalas hedónicas, analizando el estado nutricional de los niños en tres provincias del Ecuador. Método: Los niños evaluaron el agrado/desagrado de las coladas, identificadas por M, S, N y F, empleando dos escalas; a los infantes se les tomó peso/talla. Se empleó un diseño cuadrados latinos mutuamente ortogonales. Los datos hedónicos fueron analizados por ANOVA bifactorial (α=0.05) y los antropométricos según indicadores de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Resultados: Los 121 infantes de los quintiles uno y dos de pobreza (2 a 5 años; 50 F y 42 M) refirieron que les gustaron más las coladas M, S, N, a diferencia de la F, en ambas escalas. El 26.5% de los niños tuvo desnutrición crónica. La segmentación atendiendo al estado nutricional presentó el mismo comportamiento hedónico. Los familiares (65.5%) calificaron la alimentación de su hijo como buena o muy buena. Conclusión: La malnutrición crónica de los niños, no es percibida por sus padres, a pesar que en la evaluación (talla/edad) un 26.5% se encuentra con desnutrición crónica. Las coladas M, S, N tuvieron mayor agrado, siendo la F la que menos gustó consistentemente en las dos escalas. Los niños, aún en los quintiles uno y dos de pobreza, son capaces de evaluar productos alimenticios empleando ambas escalas hedónicas, a pesar de su condición de salud.

Introduction: Sensory Analysis Related to Nutritional Status Contains a a new vision for the development of food for children with disabilities nutritional. Objective: To evaluate the level of enjoyment of four glue prototypes by hedonic scales, analyzing the nutritional status of children in three provinces of the Ecuador. Method: The children evaluate the pleasure / dislike of the glues, identified by M, S, N and F, emplifying from the scales; to infants if they take weight / talla. It became flat a design of mutually orthogonal Latin squares. The hedonic data fueron analyzed by bifactorial ANOVA (α = 0.05) and anthropometric according to indicators of the World Health Organization. Results: The 121 infants of the quintiles and poverty (2 to 5 years; 50 F y 42 M) mention that the gustaron but the glued M, S, N, the difference from the F on both scales. The 26.5% of children have chronic malnutrition. The segmentation meeting the nutritional status of my hedonic behavior. Los family members (65.5%) calified their food as good or very good. Conclusion: The chronic malnutrition of children, is not perceived by their priests, although in the assessment (tall / city) a 26.5% is due to malnutrition chronicle. Las coladas M, S, N tuvieron mayor, if I like it less consistently on the scales. The kids, in the quintiles and one of poverty, are able to evaluate food products by emplacing both scales hedonic, despite their health condition.