Nutritional strategies and treatment of obesity and/or weight loss in Chile: a systematic review

Obesity is a condition characterised by a high accumulation of adipose tissue and has been increasing rapidly in recent years. This excessive weight gain and related complications may develop due to environmental and genetic factors. Furthermore, multiple national studies have demonstrated that the diet of the Chilean population is of poor quality throughout their lifespan. Therefore, this systematic review aims to examine the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of nutritional strategies and treatment programs for obesity and/or weight loss in Chile. To achieve this, PubMed and Web of Science databases were used to identify articles that evaluated the effectiveness of nutritional strategies and programs for treating obesity and/or weight loss in Chile. Following the review, 23 publications were included in the final analysis. The review found that the prevalence of obesity is particularly high in Chile. Additionally, there are a significant number of randomized controlled studies that demonstrate the benefits of weight loss. However, very few of these studies work in a multiprofessional and long-term manner.