Latin America is the region with the highest prevalence and Argentina, one of the most critical countries with 30% of overweight and obese adolescents. Middle-income countries, such as Argentina, face the combination of problems: malnutrition, micronutrient deficiency, obesity, and overweight. Although there are critical cases, especially in the most vulnerable areas of the country, malnutrition rates have fallen a lot in recent years, while overweight and obesity are increasing.

The country has the second highest rate of overweight in children under five in Latin America and the Caribbean with 9.9%, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN). According to official figures, in adolescents aged 13 to 15years, the percentage of overweight children increased by 17% in five years from 25% (2007) to 29% (2012).

This epidemic also has a dimension of inequity that strongly affects the poorest populations. Boys and girls with low socioeconomic status are 31% more likely to be overweight than those with high socioeconomic status.

In Argentina, the food labels are not clear, they lend themselves to confusion and consequently a product that seems healthy, may not be. The incorporation of the frontal labeling in the containers is an effective measure, proven in countries like Chile, that recently implemented it. Restrictions on advertising of food products aimed at children, protection of school environments, and discussion of fiscal policies for sugary drinks are other strategies that in the region show very good results.

Obesity and overweight are not individual problems: they are social epidemics that require action at the population level, that generate healthier environments where children and adolescents can fully exercise their right to health.

Chronic allergy can last up to three months and in many cases, is recurrent despite the treatments that the patient has undergone. The INER observed that prevalence of allergies in Latin America particularly in Mexico is similar to the numbers reported in highly industrialized countries.

For some types of allergies, the numbers in Mexico is slightly above the global average. According to research in Ciudad Victoria, Tijuana, Mexicali and Monterrey, rhinitis affects 27% of the children between six to seven years and 43% of adolescents aged 13-14years. The category of antihistamines to treat allergies in Mexico reports sales of USD42.2 million and three million units each year.

Unimexicali

Mexico is working towards updating its data by conducting epidemiological and representative studies across the country, with reliable guidelines. The urgency call by physicians is based on figures collected showing that osteoporosis is the second leading cause of mortality in women over 50 years of age in Colombia after cardiovascular disease.

It is estimated that every hour an osteoporosis hip fracture occurs in Colombia. Estimates show that one in three women and one in five men in the Colombia have a fracture due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is more common in women as after the age of 50 menopause begins which this leads to loss of estrogen that helps protect bones. In men, the disease is more serious after age of 70.

These natural factors coupled with lack of exercise, nutrient rich diet and vitamin D absorption leads to 40,000 vertebral fractures, 20,000 hip fractures and 12,000 wrists annually in Colombia.