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In recent years Mexico has ranked first in childhood obesity worldwide [1]. Results from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (2020) reported a combined incidence of overweight and obesity of 38% in children aged 5-11 years old [2]. According to the United Nations Organization (UNO), the rate of childhood obesity has multiplied by 10 in the last decade, and it is estimated that this figure will continue to increase. For this reason, excess body weight in children is considered a public health problem of epidemiological proportions and future consequences, increasing the predisposition to suffer from chronic diseases [3,4].
According to the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2020 (ENSANUT) by its acronym in Spanish), in Mexico the northern states have the highest joint incidence of overweight and obesity in school-aged children (40% in the North Pacific and 47% on the Northern border) [2]. The rapid economic development of the area and the proximity to the neighbouring country to the north have led Mexicans to adopt food customs involving the consumption of industrialized products with a high caloric density and that are poor in nutrients [5]. Consequently, traditional field diets rich in cereals or legumes have been put aside for low-fibre foods with high energy content [6].
The aetiology of overweight and obesity is multifactorial; however poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle are the most influential factors in its development. Unhealthy eating behaviours and limited physical activity provide the imbalance between energy intake and expenditure [7,8]. Currently, children have greater access to mobile devices or video game consoles, opting for more sedentary leisure time than doing physical activity outdoors. The excessive time spent on these activities increases a sedentary lifestyle [9] and decreases the hours of sleep [10]. Children who prefer to watch television and play video games instead of performing physical activity may be programming themselves for a sedentary future and develop chronic diseases associated with obesity [11]. On the other hand, the socio-economic level is a factor that influences lifestyle and can favor the development of obesity [12]. For low-income families, it is difficult to access healthy food groups due to their high prices [13]. The food industry mass produces cheaper products, with a pleasant flavour, rich in sugars and fats with high satiety power, which makes them preferable to the population [14]. Likewise, obesity has been associated with children who can attend private school and have greater purchasing power and accessibility to food [15,16]. Nevertheless, it has been argued that those families with a higher educational level and economic income have a greater possibility of leading a healthy lifestyle with a healthier diet and recreational physical activities [17].
In the present study, the incidence of overweight and obesity was determined in two elementary schools of different socioeconomic levels in Hermosillo Sonora, Mexico. Nutritional and physical activity patterns were evaluated to determine the population with the highest or lowest number of children with risk factors in their lifestyle and their relationship with the incidence of obesity. The results show the existence of bad eating habits in both populations, however, physical activity seems to be the most relevant in excessive body weight gain in children. From this, a specific intervention strategy can be designed in those habits that seem to be the most determinant in the incidence of obesity in school-age children.