Parental obesity and the transition from teenagers of normal-weight to young adults with obesity in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate to what extent the parental tran-sition to obesity affects the likelihood that normal-weight teenagers also transition to obesity. We depart from the hypothesis that the transition to obesity specifically among parents is the main factor affecting the development of obesity during adolescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using two rounds of the longitudinal Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS) and logistic regressions, we investigated how family weight-related characteristics affected the likelihood of teenagers 13 to 18 years of age in 2002 of becoming affected by obesity after seven to ten years. RESULTS: The results confirm that if any of the parents were affected by obesity during the teenage period, the adolescent is more likely to become affected by obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Results confirm that, different from childhood obesity, the transition of parents to obesity during the adolescence of teenagers is the most important family factor affecting such transition.

Using high hydrostatic pressures to retain the antioxidant compounds and to reduce the enzymatic activity of a pitaya-pineapple (Stenocereus sp.-Fragaria ananassa) beverage.

Pitaya (Stenocereus sp.) is a fruit native to arid and semiarid areas of Mexico. It has high antioxidant activity mainly due to its contents of betalains and phenolics, but its consumption is limited due to very short shelf-life and not very recognized flavor. A beverage of pitaya and pineapple was formulated to improve sensory properties. A high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) study at 400-600 MPa and 25 °C for 2-10 min was applied in the beverage and the effect on the contents of vitamin C, total phenolics and betalains, and the pectin methylesterase (PME) activity of pitaya-pineapple beverages, was evaluated. The effect of the come up time (CUT) was also studied. Vitamin C contents increased from 5% at 600 MPa-CUT to 64% at 400 MPa/CUT. Total phenolic concentrations decreased (20-48%) at all processing conditions tested at 400 MPa/CUT, total betacyanins were retained. At 500 MPa/10 min losses of betaxanthins of up to 6% occurred. The maximum PME activity decrease was 23% at 600 MPa 5 min, but an increase of PME activity 7% was observed at 400 MPa/10 min. HHP seem to be a good option to retain most of the antioxidant compounds in pitaya-pineapple beverage, but more studies are necessary to inactivate PME.

Family Factors Affecting the Transition of Children from Normal Weight to Obesity in Mexico.

Background: This study is a longitudinal analysis of how the transition of a mother, father, or any other family member to obesity affects the likelihood of children 5-12 years of age becoming adolescents with overweight or obesity during the 7-10-year period between 2002 and the period from 2009 to 2012 in Mexico. Methods: The study used two rounds of the Mexican Family Life Survey, a multipurpose random national survey that collected information on 8441 households, including 38,233 individuals in 2002 and successfully followed up with 3202 children until the period from 2009 to 2012. We used logistic regressions to calculate how family characteristics related to the evolution of body mass indexes among children, controlling for individual, family weight-related characteristics, and the socioeconomic level of the family. Results: The transition of any family member toward obesity is more relevant in determining the transition to obesity among normal-weight children than socioeconomic level of the family and individual characteristics, such as sex, schooling, and occupation. Conclusions: The transition of any family member toward obesity is associated with the transition to obesity among normal-weight children. A family-based approach to obesity prevention has yet to be incorporated into national policies.

Evaluation of three methods for betanin quantification in fruits from cacti.

In México, production of cacti fruits has increased. These fruits have high concentration of betalains (pigments), and market has increased interest in food with natural ingredients. In the near future, a sustainable method for betanin quantification in cacti fruits for rural communities will be necessary. Betanin in pulp of garambullo (Myrtillocactus geometrizan), chico fruit (Pachycereus weber), jiotilla (Escontria chiotilla) and pitaya de mayo (Stenocereus pruinosus) were quantified using three different analytical methods. The techniques were of Spectrophotometry UV-Vis (SCC), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Spectrophotometry technique using Molar Extinction Coefficient (SEC). The accuracy and intermediate precision were evaluated in SEC, SCC, and HPLC with the four cacti´s fruit. The means betanin concentration in the pulps were 0.68±0.05 (mg/g dry weight) garambullo, 1.28±0.06 (mg/g dry weight) chico fruit, 1.84±0.34 jiotilla and 2.0±0.25 pitaya de mayo (mg/g dry weight). The concentration of betanin in garambullo pulp measured by the three methods did not differ significantly (P >0.05). In this case, SEC method represents the best option to reduce costs, time and solvents in this way this method is aligned with green chemistry. In the three methods, coefficient of variation between measurements obtained are below 15%.•Robust method to quantify betanin and evaluate intermediate precision•Validation parameters such as LOD, LOQ, accuracy, intermediate precision, and HorRat were considered•The developed method enriches the valorization of underutilized national agricultural sources of Mexico.

Parental obesity and the transition from teenagers of normal-weight to young adults with obesity in Mexico / Obesidad del padre y la madre y la transición de adolescentes de peso/talla normal hacia la obesidad en México

Abstract: Objective: To estimate to what extent the parental transition to obesity affects the likelihood that normal-weight teenagers also transition to obesity. We depart from the hypothesis that the transition to obesity specifically among parents is the main factor affecting the development of obesity during adolescence. Materials and methods: Using two rounds of the longitudinal Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS) and logistic regressions, we investigated how family weight-related characteristics affected the likelihood of teenagers 13 to 18 years of age in 2002 of becoming affected by obesity after seven to ten years. Results: The results confirm that if any of the parents were affected by obesity during the teenage period, the adolescent is more likely to become affected by obesity. Conclusions: Results confirm that, different from childhood obesity, the transition of parents to obesity during the adolescence of teenagers is the most important family factor affecting such transition.

Resumen: Objetivo: Calcular en qué medida la transición hacia la obesidad, específicamente del padre o la madre, tiene un impacto en el desarrollo de obesidad entre adolescentes. Material y métodos: Se utilizaron dos rondas de la Encuesta Nacional sobre Niveles de Vida de los Hogares (ENNViH) y regresiones logísticas para investigar cómo las características de peso/talla de los miembros del hogar afectan las probabilidades de que adolescentes desarrollen obesidad. Resultados: Cuando alguno de los padres desarrolla obesidad, el o la adolescente tiene más probabilidades de hacer una transición hacia la obesidad, en comparación con los casos en los que los padres mantienen un peso/talla normales. Conclusión: Se confirma que la transición de los padres durante la adolescencia es el principal factor que tiene un impacto en el desarrollo de obesidad entre adolescentes.