Negative nutrition impacts from the food price crisis in Latin America

The challenge of improving food and nutrition in Latin America.

The Latin American Region has exhibited a marked increase in the consumption of high-energy-density foods (high in fats and sugars) and a decrease in physical activity, with rising trends of sedentary life among the urban population. Social and economic progress led to a decline in infectious diseases, while higher income fostered the consumption of meats, fats and oils, and sugar and reduced t...

Rebalancing the negative impacts of food price volatility

Real progress has been achieved in development: the percentage of absolute poor has been halved since 1990, from 43 to 21 percent. Now the world is debating about future development goals, post 2015. Poverty reduction should remain at the top of the agenda. Ending the extreme poverty of one euro (1.25$) a day and ending hunger are now realistic goals for 2030. But tackling the remaining half-th...

Food Security in Latin America

Economic Crisis and Democracy in Latin America

While the world is focused on the economic impact of the financial and credit meltdown, what might be its impact on politics? In well-established democracies, probably not more than elections lost by incumbent parties seen as having mismanaged the economy.Butwhat of consolidatingdemocracies that predominate in thedevelopingworld, where some forecasts expect the crisis to hit the poor especially...

Nutrition status of children in Latin America

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is rapidly increasing among Latin American children, posing challenges for current healthcare systems and increasing the risk for a wide range of diseases. To understand the factors contributing to childhood obesity in Latin America, this paper reviews the current nutrition status and physical activity situation, the disparities between and within countr...