Directors: Joaquín Recaño; Jeroen Spijker

Tribunal:

President: Antonio D. Cámara Hueso (Dep. Organización de Empresas, Márketing y Sociología, Universidad de Jaén)

Secretari: J. Enrique Acosta Gutiérrez (Centre d’Estudis Demogràfics-CED)

Vocal: Sandra P. Martínez Cabezas (Centro de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible para América Latina; Universidad de los Andes)

Lloc: Sala d’Actes (B7/1056), Facultat de Filosofia i Lletres, UAB

Online:
Entrar Zoom Reunión
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85817286369

ID de reunión: 858 1728 6369
Código de acceso: 132032

Abstract:

The following doctoral dissertation consists of four essays exploring sociodemographic and geographic determinants associated with adult obesity in Colombia. Traditionally, this public health problem has been examined in Colombia predominantly from a medical perspective, with only a few approximations made through epidemiological and nutritional avenues. Therefore, this PhD thesis aims to fill the research gap on obesity trends and
determinants based on rigorous quantitative and qualitative techniques from demography, epidemiology, and public health.

The first essay is a scoping review of studies that identified and described sociodemographic and public health dimensions of adult obesity in Colombia, according to the guidelines proposed by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews. The second essay demonstrates a quasi-cohort analysis to capture age and cohort trends in BMI across various social and race-ethnic population segments using data from the National Survey of the Nutritional Situation in Colombia (ENSIN) 2005-2015, which represents the initial attempt at conducting this type of analysis within this context. The third essay presents a pooled analysis of prevalence and sociodemographic determinants associated with overweight and obesity among adults in Colombia through ENSIN 2010 and 2015. Age group, sex, race-ethnic group, educational attainment, economic activity, region, and place of settlement are examples of determinants included in the analysis. Based on the consistent findings concerning the racial-ethnic component across the first three essays, it is necessary to delve into the obesity phenomenon through qualitative analysis. Consequently, the fourth essay examines the cultural, social, and biological influences of the onset and persistence of obesity in Afro-Colombians and Indigenous populations in Quibdó, Colombia.

Overall, the findings confirm a higher prevalence of obesity among women, an increased risk, higher rates of obesity within the Afro-Colombian and indigenous population, and rising overweight and obesity figures among young generations. Furthermore, the most critical determinants of being overweight and obese were identified as older age, a higher level of education, engagement in household activities, and residing in regions outside the country’s capital. Additionally, social influences such as living conditions, neighbourhood environment, insecurity, forced displacement, and cultural beliefs are identified as fundamental contributors to the onset of obesity.