ABSTRACT
Background: The coronavirus 2 pandemic (COVID-19) has caused intense changes in lifestyles, feeding, and nutrition habits. Aim: To analyze food insecurity and eating habits during the period of quarantine in a group of Chilean individuals. Material and Methods: An online survey was conducted in 2,767 households with questions about the sociodemographic composition of the household, household food purchasing habits in the quarantine period for COVID-19, and perception of food insecurity. Results: More than 60% of households (p < 0.01) were worried about not having enough food, especially when children under 18 years of age lived in them. This perception increased in urban households (p < 0.01) and those located in the Central-Southern and Southern regions (p < 0.01). During the pandemic, the consumption of healthy products such as milk increased in 50% of households, legumes in 72%, eggs in 79%, fruits in 54%, vegetables in 67% and water in 81%. There was also a lower consumption of unhealthy and ultra-processed foods such as hot-dogs in 90% of households, sausages in 73%, sugary drinks in 79% and ice cream in 83%. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic in Chile increased the perception of food insecurity in households with vulnerable conditions. However, the consumption of healthier foods increased.
Subject(s)
Humans , Child , Adolescent , Pandemics , Food Supply , Food Insecurity , COVID-19 , Perception , Vegetables , Chile/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Overweight and obesity are a global epidemic with rates having risen to alarming levels in both developed and developing countries. Chile has been no exemption, with sharp increases in obesity prevalence, especially among school-age children. This paper describes the policy actions and strategies implemented to tackle this major public health concern in Chile over the last 10 years, and highlights the main challenges and nuances of the process. Chile has taken policy action that includes front-of-package labelling, advertising regulations, and school-food restrictions. New policies focus on the social determinants of health as they relate to food environments and people's behavior. These actions are not only suitable to the current context in Chile, but are also supported by the best available scientific evidence. Moreover, the implementation of these policies has produced a broad debate involving public institutions and the food industry, with discussions issues ranging from property rights to trade barriers. Despite some differences among stakeholders, a valuable political consensus has been achieved, and several international organizations are eager to evaluate the impact of these pioneer initiatives in Latin America.
Subject(s)
Humans , Evidence-Informed Policy , Legislation, Food/standards , Obesity/prevention & control , Chile , Food Publicity , Food Labeling/standardsABSTRACT
Los programas alimentarios existen en Chile desde hace más de medio siglo, se han desarrollado como parte de las políticas de protección de la salud, especialmente de los grupos más desprotegidos como fueron al principio el binomio materno infantil, y últimamente los adultos mayores. Uno de los propósitos fundamentales ha sido mantener y o mejorar el estado nutricional de estos grupos, en la actualidad se ha agregado, la disminución de los riesgos de contraer enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles asociadas a la alimentación y el sedentarismo. El Programa Nacional de Alimentación Complementaria PNAC, constituye un beneficio gratuito universal, establecido por ley, para todos(as) los niños(as) y embarazadas del país, sin dependencia de su condición previsional de salud. Estos programas integran la política de estado de protección de la salud y desarrollo integral de la población materno infantil y se han adaptado a los cambios epidemiológicos y demográficos, y a los avances en los conocimientos científico-tecnológicos del área alimentario-nutricional. Desde 9 y 5 años atrás se sumaron como beneficiarios, los adultos mayores, y los prematuros extremos y fenilcetonúricos respectivamente. Actualmente los programas alimentarios del Ministerio de Salud, el PNAC como integrante de la estrategia de intervención nutricional en el ciclo vital y el Programa de Alimentación Complementaria del Adulto Mayor PACAM siendo parte de actividades como promoción de envejecimiento saludable, componen la más significativa intervención alimentario-nutricional en Chile, contribución fundamental a la consecución de las metas sanitarias del país.
Food programs have existed in Chile since over half a century, they have been developed as part of the health protection policies, specially for the more vulnerable groups, regarding, initially the mother and child binomial and lately, the senior citizens. One of the main objectives has been to maintain and/or improve the nutritional state of these groups and currently, the decrease of the risk of developing non communicable chronic diseases associated to diet and a sedentary lifestyle has been added. The National Programs of Complementary Food (PNAC) is a free universal benefit, established by law for all children and pregnant women in the country, independent of their health insurance system. This programme integrates the States health protection policy and the comprehensive development of the mother and child population and has been adapted to the epidemiological and demographical changes as well as to the progress in the scientific-technological knowledge in the area of food and nutrition. Nine years ago, the senior citizens (the elderly) were added and since 2003, the extreme premature babies and those with Phenylketonuric.Nowadays the Food Programs of the Ministry of Health, (PNAC) as part of the nutritional intervention strategy throughout the life cycle and the Programs of Complementary Food for Seniors (PACAM) which forms part of the activities of healthy aging promotion, compose one of the most signifi cant feeding nutritional intervention in Chile which is a fundamental contribution to achieve the countrys sanitary goals.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Social Support , National Health Programs , Nutrition Programs and Policies , Chile , Maternal Nutrition , Infant Nutrition , Health of the ElderlyABSTRACT
Los programas de suplementación alimentaria y de fortificación de alimentos en Chile datan de principios de siglo pasado. Estos programas han sufrido adecuaciones permanentes en el tiempo, adaptándose a los cambios epidemiológicos de nuestra población. Los programas vigentes hoy involucran a la población infantil, a las embarazadas, a los adultos mayores y a algunos grupos específicos de alto riesgo. El objetivo principal de todos los programas continúa siendo mantener óptimo el estado nutricional de nuestra población. Entre los logros más importantes se cuenta la disminución de grandes problemas de salud pública como lo son la desnutrición infantil, la anemia del lactante, la desnutrición de la embarazada, el bocio endémico y otros logros más recientes como la disminución de la prevalencia de las enfermedades del tubo neural y mejoría del estado nutricional y de la funcionalidad del adulto mayor. Como desafíos futuros se plantea continuar optimizando estos programas en cuanto a cobertura poblacional, calidad de productos según nuevas necesidades y según requerimientos especiales, y contribuir a la reducción de la obesidad y de la prevalencia de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles del adulto.