Social determinants of obesity in children and adolescents in Latin America: A scoping review 2020-2022

Introduction: There is growing concern about obesity in children and adolescents in the region and the need to understand the underlying factors to this problem is highlighted. The aim of this study was to review scientific evidence on the social determinants associated with obesity in children and adolescents in Latin America from 2020 to 2022. Method: A scoping review was conducted, including studies published between 2020 and 2022 in Latin American countries. Databases such as Web of Science, Scielo, Virtual Health Library, and Pubmed were consulted. Thirteen studies related to the review's objectives were included. Results: The studies identified various determinants, especially intermediate and some structural factors, with an impact on obesity in the region's children and adolescents. For example, exposure to screens or sleep hours were highlighted in many of them, as well as socio-economic status and geographic location. The studies focused on a small number of countries, such as Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. Discussion: The importance of addressing obesity in children and adolescents from an integrated perspective is emphasized, considering social determinants that contribute to obesity in Latin American children and adolescents.