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ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Rapidly rising childhood obesity rates constitute a public health priority in Latin America which makes it imperative to develop evidence-based strategies. Schools are a promising setting but to date it is unclear how many school-based obesity interventions have been documented in Latin America and what level of evidence can be gathered from such interventions. METHODS We performed a systematic review of papers published between 1965 and December 2010. Interventions were considered eligible if they had a school-based component, were done in Latin America, evaluated an obesity related outcome (body mass index [ BMI], weight, %body fat, waist circumference, BMI z-score), and compared youth exposed vs not exposed. RESULTS Ten studies were identified as having a school-based component. Most interventions had a sample of normal and overweight children. The most successful interventions focused on prevention rather than treatment, had longer follow-ups, a multidisciplinary team, and fewer limitations in execution. Three prevention and 2 treatment interventions found sufficient improvements in obesity-related outcomes. CONCLUSIONS We found sufficient evidence to recommend school-based interventions to prevent obesity among youth in Latin America. Evidence-based interventions in the school setting should be promoted as an important component for integrated programs, policies, and monitoring frameworks designed to reverse the childhood obesity in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Context: Latinos are the largest and fastest-growing ethnically diverse group in the U.S.; they are also the most overweight. Mexico is now second to the U.S. in experiencing the worst epidemic of obesity in the world. Objectives of this study were to (1) conduct a systematic review of obesity-related interventions targeting Latinos living in the U.S. and Latin America and (2) develop evidence-based recommendations to inform culturally relevant strategies targeting obesity. Evidence acquisition: Obesity-related interventions, published between 1965 and 2010, were identified through searches of major electronic databases in 2010–2011. Selection criteria included evaluation of obesity-related measures; intervention conducted in a community setting; and at least 50.0% Latino/Latin American participants, or with stratified results by race/ethnicity. Evidence synthesis: Body of evidence was based on the number of available studies, study design, execution, and effect size. Of 19,758 articles, 105 interventions met final inclusion criteria. Interventions promoting physical activity and/or healthy eating had strong or sufficient evidence for recommending (1) school-based interventions in the U.S. and Latin America; (2) interventions for overweight or obese children in the healthcare context in Latin America; (3) individual-based interventions for overweight or obese adults in the U.S.; (4) individual-based interventions for adults in Latin America; and (5) healthcare-based interventions for overweight or obese adults in Latin America. Conclusions: Most intervention approaches combined physical activity and healthy eating to address both sides of the energy-balance equation. Results can help guide comprehensive evidence-based efforts to tackle the obesity epidemic in the U.S. and Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Worksite-based interventions have been shown to result consistently in significant improvements in weight- and health-related outcomes among the working adult population; however, applicability and effectiveness of studies has often been limited by inadequate reporting of age and ethnicity. This study aimed to examine work-based interventions among Latinos in the U.S. and Latin America. Evidence acquisition: Data were abstracted (and analyzed) from “parent” study Guide to Obesity Prevention in Latin American and the U.S. (GOL), between January 2010 and December 2011. Manuscripts from 1965 to 2010 were evaluated according to inclusion criteria for interventions, including a sample population of at least 50% Latinos or results stratified by ethnicity, at least one obesity-related outcome measure evaluated before and after intervention, and worksite setting and comparison of an intervention group to a non-intervention group (including pre–post designs). Evidence synthesis: Of 105 interventions abstracted, five were work-based interventions. The average participant age was 45 years, with an average of 58% women. Four of the five interventions had a pre–post study design that received a fair execution score and lowest design-suitability score, whereas one group RCT intervention had the greatest design suitability and good execution. For two studies, Cohen''s d effect sizes ranged from 0.09 to 0.603. Effect sizes could not be calculated for three of the interventions. Three interventions found significant outcomes for BMI, three for weight, two for waist circumference, and one for waist-to-hip ratio. Conclusions: Few studies have focused on work-based interventions specifically aimed at Latinos. This review identified promising strategies for reducing obesity in the workplace. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

With increased globalization, Latin America is experiencing transitions from traditional lifestyle and dietary practices to those found in higher income countries. Healthy diets, physical activity and optimal body fat can prevent approximately 15% of cancers in low-income and 20% in high-income countries. We discuss links between diet, obesity, physical activity and cancer, emphasizing strategies targeting children to decrease risk of obesity, control obesity-related risk factors, and reduce sedentary lifestyles, as this will have high impact on adult cancer risk. We focus on individual behaviors, economic, cultural and societal changes that may guide future interventions in the Americas., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflict of interests. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.