Determinants of the global obesity epidemic

• Autor(a) principal: Borges, Nuno
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• DOI: 10.34632/cadernosdesaude.2011.3027
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.34632/cadernosdesaude.2011.3027

Obesity is a disease characterized by an excessive accumulation of body fat. Its prevalence has increased significantly in recent decades, making it a global epidemic. Despite the overwhelming importance of this disorder, many studies do not yet allow a clear and inclusive view of its determinants. Apart from the well established importance of heredity, it is already possible to identify some factors that correlate with weight gain, especially in childhood. These include maternal nutrition, weight evolution during the first months of life, breastfeeding, sleep duration, intensity of physical activity and consumption of micronutrient‑poor, energy‑dense foods, particularly sugary drinks. From the ppropriateness of policies designed to correct these factors will depend the success of the struggle that we must take against this disease.