Resumen El 78 % de las muertes ocurridas en Colombia en 2019 se debieron a enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles. De estas, el 30 % se originaron por condiciones cardiovasculares que se explican principalmente por factores de riesgo como sedentarismo, tabaquismo y patrones de alimentación no saludables. El exceso de consumo de grasas provenientes de la dieta, especialmente saturadas y trans, está relacionado con diversos efectos negativos en salud. En la población colombiana, la ingesta de grasas está dada principalmente por el uso de aceites empleados en frituras y el consumo de productos comestibles ultraprocesados. La Ley 2120, aprobada en Colombia, establece la implementación de un sistema de etiquetado nutricional de advertencia de los principales nutrientes críticos, dentro de ellos de las grasas no saludables contenidas en exceso en comestibles envasados.

Abstract In Colombia, 78% of deaths in 2019 were caused by non-communicable diseases. Around 30% correspond to cardiovascular causes. This is a multifactorial problem, involving a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and unhealthy eating habits. The surplus of fat consumption, especially saturated and trans fats, is related to various negative impacts on health. In the Colombian population, the intake of fats is mainly originated from oils employed in fried cooking and ultra-processed products. The 2120 law, recently passed in the Colombian Congress, enforces the labeling of packaged products, informing about critical nutrients, including unhealthy fats contained in consumer packaged goods.

Resumen Los patrones de alimentación no saludables son el principal factor de riesgo comportamental relacionado con la mortalidad en América Latina y el Caribe. En el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19, no solo es prioritaria la implementación de acciones políticas para promocionar una alimentación saludable y reducir el consumo de comestibles ultraprocesados para prevenir enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (ENT), sino para reducir el deterioro clínico de las personas que las padecen. De ahí que sean un pilar fundamental las acciones políticas que aseguren la disponibilidad de alimentos no procesados de alto valor nutricional para la población general y que les permitan a los agricultores continuar con sus actividades de cultivo y cosecha para mitigar los efectos negativos en la salud derivados de la pandemia. Se requiere un abordaje integral para enfrentar el creciente desafío de la obesidad y de las ENT asociadas con patrones de alimentación no saludables, que incluya las siguientes acciones: impuestos a las bebidas azucaradas, restricciones al márquetin de bebidas y comestibles ultraprocesados, etiquetado frontal de advertencia y el desarrollo de políticas públicas para modificar los sistemas agrícolas y alimentarios actuales.

Abstract Unhealthy eating patterns are the main behavioral risk factor related to mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of political actions to promote a healthy diet and reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods is a priority, not only to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs), but also to reduce the clinical impairment of the persons who suffer them. The political actions that ensure the supply of unprocessed foods of high nutritional value to the markets in a periodic and timely manner and that allow the farmers to continue with their cultivation and harvest activities are a fundamental pillar to mitigate the effects of indirect health negatives derived from the pandemic. To face the growing challenge of obesity and NCDs associated with unhealthy eating patterns a comprehensive approach is required that includes the following actions: taxes on sugary beverages, restrictions on marketing and advertising of ultra-processed foods and beverages, front-of-package warning label, as well as policies to modify agricultural and food systems.

Resumen Introducción. Para el profesional en nutrición, las tablas de intercambios de alimentos (TIA) son una herramienta que permite cuantificar la ingesta de calorías y nutrientes y planear la alimentación de manera práctica. Objetivo. Diseñar una TIA para uso en pediatría que facilite la labor del nutricionista en esta población. Materiales y métodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal. La selección de los alimentos consumidos con mayor frecuencia se realizó de acuerdo con recordatorios de 24 horas y una tabla de composición de alimentos (TCA). Se determinaron los tamaños de intercambio de alimentos teniendo en cuenta las porciones del grupo etario. Después del análisis químico de los alimentos se determinaron las medidas caseras (p. ej. cucharada, cucharadita, taza, etc.) y se diseñó y se validó la TIA para uso en pediatría. Resultados. Se incluyeron 241 alimentos, los cuales se distribuyeron en 9 grupos y 4 anexos. Se tuvo en cuenta un nutriente principal para cada grupo y la medida casera se definió según las características de cada alimento. Se observó concordancia en la evaluación de consumo entre las TIA para uso en pediatría y la TCA (CCI>0.81). Conclusión. Se desarrolló una TIA para población pediátrica confiable que permitirá evaluar la alimentación y diseñar planes de alimentación en preescolares y escolares de manera práctica.

Abstract Introduction: Food exchange lists (FEL) are useful tools for nutritionists that allow them to quantify the intake of calories and nutrients and to make feeding plans in a practical way. Objective: To design a FEL to be used in pediatric population in order to ease the nutritionists' work when treating children. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study. The most frequently consumed foods were selected based on 24-hour reminders and a food composition database (FCDB). Food exchange sizes were determined taking into account the age group food portion sizes. After the food composition chemical analysis, the portion sizes to be used at home (e.g. spoon, teaspoon, cup, etc.) were determined and the FEL for pediatric use was designed and validated. Results: A total of 241 foods, distributed in 9 groups and 4 annexes, were included. A main nutrient was considered for each group and the portion size to be used at home was defined according to the characteristics of each food. There was consistency between the FEL for pediatric use and the FCDB regarding consumption assessment (ICC>0.81). Conclusion: It was possible to develop a reliable FEL for pediatric use that will allow nutritionists to assess feeding and design feeding plans for preschoolers and schoolchildren in a practical way.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To document the evidence about marketing of ultra-processed foods and “non-alcoholic” beverages in Latin America. METHODS We performed a structured search of quantitative and qualitative studies in PubMed, SciELO and LILACS, published between January 2000 and May 2017 and conducted in Latin America. We conducted a quality assessment following a standardized tool and a thematic analysis to identify key typologies of marketing across studies RESULTS Out of 521 studies screened by title and abstract, we included 36 in this review; 27 of them analyzed television advertisement. Other marketing channels studied were food packaging, point of sale and outdoor advertisement. Studies found television advertises foods and beverages that are mostly ultraprocessed foods and have low nutritional value, particularly those promoted during children’s programming. We also observed children have a literal interpretation of images printed on food packaging, so this can be deceiving. Several studies also found proximity to unhealthy foods may increase their consumption. Finally, the thematic analysis identified the following typologies of food marketing: a) television advertisement, b) food packaging marketing, c) marketing strategies at points of sale and d) other marketing strategies. We found almost no advertisements for unprocessed or minimally processed foods such as fruits and vegetables. We did not find any studies on digital marketing conducted in the region. CONCLUSIONS This review found that the main channel of food marketing was television advertising. This synthesis provides insights to the challenges unhealthy eating represents to the public health of Latin America and identifies knowledge gaps to guide future research.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To document the evidence about marketing of ultra-processed foods and “non-alcoholic” beverages in Latin America. METHODS We performed a structured search of quantitative and qualitative studies in PubMed, SciELO and LILACS, published between January 2000 and May 2017 and conducted in Latin America. We conducted a quality assessment following a standardized tool and a thematic analysis to identify key typologies of marketing across studies RESULTS Out of 521 studies screened by title and abstract, we included 36 in this review; 27 of them analyzed television advertisement. Other marketing channels studied were food packaging, point of sale and outdoor advertisement. Studies found television advertises foods and beverages that are mostly ultraprocessed foods and have low nutritional value, particularly those promoted during children’s programming. We also observed children have a literal interpretation of images printed on food packaging, so this can be deceiving. Several studies also found proximity to unhealthy foods may increase their consumption. Finally, the thematic analysis identified the following typologies of food marketing: a) television advertisement, b) food packaging marketing, c) marketing strategies at points of sale and d) other marketing strategies. We found almost no advertisements for unprocessed or minimally processed foods such as fruits and vegetables. We did not find any studies on digital marketing conducted in the region. CONCLUSIONS This review found that the main channel of food marketing was television advertising. This synthesis provides insights to the challenges unhealthy eating represents to the public health of Latin America and identifies knowledge gaps to guide future research.