Studies on the Nutrition Transition in Brazil and Mexico

Brazil

Professor Carlos Montiero and his team at the University of São Paulo, Center for Epidemiological Studies in Health and Nutrition, have completed a set of studies with Barry Popkin on dietary and obesity trends in Brazil and program and policy issues. These investigations have documented the changes in body composition patterns related to under- and over-nutrition, shifts of the burden of obesity toward the poor and less educated in Brazil, and work by the government to prevent obesity. These studies continue.

Mexico

Professor Juan Rivera, Director of the Nutrition and Health Research Center, National Institute of Public Health; and Professor Simon Barquera, Director of Research on Nutrition, Epidemiology Division, National Institute of Public Health, have begun a series of collaborations, many with the Ministry of Health, Mexico. These initiatives include studies on the nutrition transition in Mexico, membership on the Mexican Ministry of Health's Beverage Guidance Panel, a large random controlled trial on wáter and health (led by Dr. Sonia Rodriquez), work on front-of-the-package labeling in Mexico, a series of papers on beverage patterns, and new work on Mexican nutrition. Joint survey research is planned for the future.