Nutritional epidemiological overlap in Latin America

Background: In Latin America is being lived a controversial epidemiologic situation with regard to the nutritional state of its inhabitants due to the coexistence of malnutrition and obesity. The purpose of this study is to carry out a reflexive analysis about that nutritional epidemiological superposition. Method: A critical and discussion review has been made according to the main results observed by means of a descriptive cross-sectional bibliographic study. Results: The 32 selected papers illustrate that Latin America is living a period of transition between the famine and the non- transmissible illness related to nutrition. Malnutrition persists with an increase of obesity registered in all the countries and affecting mainly women and children. Nutritional problems are determining a high morbility and they are one of the firsts mortality causes. Conclusions: The articles studied are heterogeneous in methodology, field, time and objectives considered, although all of them decnbe the evolution and magnitude of the problem in the different Latin American countries. There is not MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) descriptor to index properly the scientific production about nutricional transition. (C) 2010 SENC. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.