Obesidad infantil: influencia de la nutrición y el estrés materno

Abstract

The obesity problem is increasingly serious, with growing prevalence rates. A concerning issue is the levels of obesity in boys and girls, even before the age of 5, particularly because this condition will bring a multitude of health problems in their adulthood. Besides excessive food intake and lack of physical activity, there are factors that can predispose to overweight even before birth. One of them is the stress experienced by the mother during pregnancy. Although stress is generally a mechanism that provides advantages by warning and helping to navigate unpleasant situations, chronic stress in pregnant women can influence fetal development. According to the fetal programming hypothesis, negative environmental conditions can alter development and predispose individuals to suffer from childhood obesity. The covid-19 pandemic exemplifies a source of chronic stress. Specifically, pregnant women may experience higher stress levels due to reduced mobility, family environment, fear of contracting the virus, etc. In this article, we not only outline some of the stress-related effects on obesity but also strategies to control it.