Marianella Herrera-Cuenca
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Venezuela
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Diabetes Metab
Chronic non communicable diseases are major public health concerns worldwide and evidence based literature shows significant relationships between low socioeconomic status and being overweight and/or obese; such a relationship has also been observed for type-2 diabetes. Many factors influence weight and body composition, including genetic, lifestyle, living conditions and intergenerational vicious cycles of malnutrition. Being overweight during early life is associated with poor health outcomes over the short and long term. In countries with high rates of adolescent pregnancies, growth and development of mothers and newborns is compromised, moreover when these mothers are experiencing under or over nutrition. In addition, a mother exposed to disadvantaged conditions such as food insecurity, low income and poverty is at risk for developing obesity and type-2 diabetes, herself and her children by promoting a vicious cycle of malnutrition and fetal programming of obesity and diabetes in new generations. Traditionally poverty and low socioeconomic status were associated with under-nutrition, but nowadays exploring the relationship of living in disadvantaged conditions requires a methodological effort in order to establish the extension of the many factors interacting in this complex situation and suggest public policies according to this situation. Modifiable factors such as lifestyle, quality diets, modifications of pre-conceptional environments and education should be part of interventions guided by government and agencies for interventions in vulnerable populations.
Email: marianella.herrera@ucv.ve
