Manuel Ramirez‐zea
Datos Biográficos
| ID | 89595 |
|---|---|
| NOMBRE | Manuel Ramirez‐zea |
| NOMBRES | Manuel |
| APELLIDO | Ramirez‐zea |
| FIRMA | ZEA M R |
| AFILIACIONES | Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-5107-9175 |
| VERIFICADO | Sí |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 38 |
| TOTAL DE CITAS | 4 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 38 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMER AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2005 |
| AÑO MÁS RECIENTE DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2025 |
| ÍNDICE H | 1 |
Associations between social and built environments and cardiovascular disease mortality across 342 Latin American cities
Background: Latin American cities have heterogeneous mortality and urban environment profiles. We aim to describe the variability in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality across and within cities, and within and between Latin American countries, and investigate the associations between urban environmental features and CVD mortality in these areas. Methods: Using harmonised data from the Salud Urbana en América Latina (i.e. Urban Health in Latin …
Women’s health and well-being in five birth cohorts from low- and middle-income countries
Background: Women's health and well-being (WHW) have been receiving growing attention, but limited progress has been made on how to measure its different domains in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We used data from five long-term birth cohorts in Brazil, Guatemala, the Philippines and South Africa to explore different domains of adult WHW, and how these domains relate to early life exposures. Methods: Based upon an a priori conceptualis…
Reach and effectiveness of a HEARTS hypertension pilot project in Guatemala
The World Health Organization Global Hearts initiative (HEARTS) and technical package aim to improve the primary health care management of hypertension and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease at the population level. This study describes the first HEARTS implementation pilot project in Guatemala's Ministry of Health (MOH) primary health care system. This pilot began in April 2022 in six primary health care facilities in three rural indi…
Unhealthy food advertising on Costa Rican and Guatemalan television
This study aimed to exhaustively explore the characteristics of food advertising on TV in Guatemala and Costa Rica. The International Network for Food and Obesity Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS) methodology was applied. In 2016, we recorded 1440 h of video among 10 TV channels. We used the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Nutrient Profile (NP) Model to identify ‘critical nutrients’, whose…
Global implementation research capacity building to address cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, but implementation of evidence-based interventions for risk factors such as hypertension is lacking, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Building implementation research capacity in LMICs is required to overcome this gap. Members of the Global Research on Implementation and Translation Science (GRIT) Consortium have been collaborating in rece…
Early life predictors of body composition trajectories from adolescence to mid‐adulthood
OBJECTIVES: Guatemala has experienced rapid increases in adult obesity. We characterized body composition trajectories from adolescence to mid-adulthood and determined the predictive role of parental characteristics, early life factors, and a nutrition intervention. METHODS: One thousand three hundred and sixty-four individuals who participated as children in a nutrition trial (1969-1977) were followed prospectively. Body composition characterize…
Leukocyte telomere length is inversely associated with a metabolic risk score in Mesoamerican children
OBJECTIVE: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) may be involved in the etiology of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We examined the associations of LTL with MetS and its components among Mesoamerican children and their adult parents, in a region where MetS prevalence is high. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 151 children aged 7-12 years and 346 parents from the capitals of Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Chiapas Stat…
Subjective social status is associated with happiness but not weight status or psychological distress
Subjective social status showed small but consistent associations with happiness in birth cohorts independent of life-course SEP
Explanatory models of hypertension in Guatemala
As understandings of hypertension vary between types of participants, it is important to describe their similarities and differences considering the role each has in the health system. Considering different perceptions of hypertension will enable better informed program planning and implementation efforts
Educational inequalities in obesity
Objective: Using newly harmonised individual-level data on health and socio-economic environments in Latin American cities (from the Salud Urbana en América Latina (SALURBAL) study), we assessed the association between obesity and education levels and explored potential effect modification of this association by city-level socio-economic development. Design: This cross-sectional study used survey data collected between 2002 and 2017. Absolute and…
Two countries, similar practices
Objective: To identify the corporate political activity (CPA) strategies used by food industry actors during the development of two public health nutrition policies in Central America: Law #570 (taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages) in Panama and Bill #5504 (labelling and food marketing regulations) in Guatemala. Design: We triangulated data from publicly available information from 2018 to 2020, (e.g. industry and government materials; social me…
Socioeconomic position over the life-course and subjective social status in relation to nutritional status and mental health among Guatemalan adults
Subjective social status was independently associated with happiness and psychological distress in middle adulthood after adjusting for objective SEP. Moreover, association of objective SEP with health was not mediated by SSS, suggesting potentially independent pathways
Changes in asset-based wealth across the life course in birth cohorts from five low- and middle-income countries
Temporally-harmonized asset indices displayed coherence with cross-sectional indices as well as construct validity with schooling
Relative and absolute wealth mobility since birth in relation to health and human capital in middle adulthood
Higher attained schooling provided a pathway for upward relative mobility and higher absolute wealth gains as well as protection against downward relative mobility. Upward mobility was associated with lower psychological distress and higher fluid intelligence but also higher weight status
Cognitive and socio-emotional correlates of psychological well-being and mental health in Guatemalan adults
Of all examined factors, spirituality and religion made the greatest contribution to psychological well-being. These findings support the notion that in populations experiencing difficult circumstances, religion can perhaps make a greater contribution to well-being and aid coping. More research is needed to examine mediators of this association
B-vitamins and metabolic syndrome in Mesoamerican children and their adult parents
Objective: To examine the associations between vitamins of the methionine-homocysteine (Hcys) cycle (B 6 , B 12 and folate) and Hcys with metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Mesoamerican children and their adult parents. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Exposures were plasma vitamins B 6 and B 12 concentrations, erythrocyte folate and plasma Hcys. In children, the outcome was a continuous metabolic risk score calculated through sex- and …
Excess Mortality During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Guatemala
Objectives. To describe excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Guatemala during 2020 by week, age, sex, and place of death. Methods. We used mortality data from 2015 to 2020, gathered through the vital registration system of Guatemala. We calculated weekly mortality rates, overall and stratified by age, sex, and place of death. We fitted a generalized additive model to calculate excess deaths, adjusting for seasonality and secular trend…
Influence of enhanced nutrition and psychosocial stimulation in early childhood on cognitive functioning and psychological well-being in Guatemalan adults
Our findings suggest that childhood nutrition interventions have long-lasting effects on cognitive ability and psychological well-being outcomes
Socio-economic and ethnic disparities of malnutrition in all its forms in Guatemala
Objective: To analyse disparities of malnutrition in all its forms by socio-economic indicators in children aged Design: We defined wasting/underweight, stunting/short stature, overweight and obesity following the WHO criteria for children aged Setting: Guatemalan 2014–2015 National Maternal and Child Health Survey. Participants: Children aged n 11 962), adolescent girls aged 15–19 years ( n 1086) and WRA aged 20–49 years ( n 11 354). Results: St…
Lack of nutrient declarations and low nutritional quality of pre-packaged foods sold in Guatemalan supermarkets
Objective: To assess the presence of nutrition declarations and nutritional quality in pre-packaged food products sold in Guatemala. Design: We photographed nutrition labels of pre-packaged foods. We extracted information about declaration of energy, total/saturated/trans-fats, total/added sugars and Na content (critical nutrients). We classified all products according to their degree of processing (NOVA classification) and nutritional quality (P…
Global benchmarking of children's exposure to television advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages across 22 countries
Restricting children's exposures to marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages is a global obesity prevention priority. Monitoring marketing exposures supports informed policymaking. This study presents a global overview of children's television advertising exposure to healthy and unhealthy products. Twenty‐two countries contributed data, captured between 2008 and 2017. Advertisements were coded for the nature of foods and beverages, using the 20…
Television food and beverage marketing to children in Costa Rica
Objective: To examine the frequency of television (TV) food and beverage advertisements (F&B ads) to which children (4–11 years) are likely exposed and the nutrient profile of products advertised. Design: TV broadcasting between September and November 2016 was recorded (288 h of children’s programming; 288 h of family programming) resulting in 8980 advertisements, of which 1862 were F&B ads. Of those, 1473 could be classified into one of the seve…
Sociodemographic correlates and family aggregation of leukocyte telomere length in adults and children from Mesoamerica
OBJECTIVE: Telomere length is a biomarker of cumulative stress and inflammation related to chronic disease risk. We examined the associations of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with sociodemographic and anthropometric variables and estimated LTL family aggregation in Central America, a region with a high burden of chronic disease where LTL has not been studied. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 174 school age children and their par…
Correlates and family aggregation of vitamin D concentrations in school-aged children and their parents in nine Mesoamerican countries
Objective To determine the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, diet and outdoor activity as an indicator of sun exposure with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in children and their parents from Mesoamerica. We also quantified family aggregation of serum 25(OH)D. Design Cross-sectional study. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were quantified using immunoassay. We compared the distribution of 25(OH)D concentrations in adu…
Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of metabolic syndrome in school-aged children and their parents in nine Mesoamerican countries
Objective To ascertain the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of cardiometabolic risk factors in adults and school-aged children from Mesoamerica. Design Cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. In adults, metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. In children, we calculated a continuous sex- and age-standardized metabolic risk score using …
Influence of enhanced nutrition and psychosocial stimulation in early childhood on cognitive functioning and psychological well-being in Guatemalan adults
Our findings suggest that childhood nutrition interventions have long-lasting effects on cognitive ability and psychological well-being outcomes
Excess Mortality During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Guatemala
Objectives. To describe excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Guatemala during 2020 by week, age, sex, and place of death. Methods. We used mortality data from 2015 to 2020, gathered through the vital registration system of Guatemala. We calculated weekly mortality rates, overall and stratified by age, sex, and place of death. We fitted a generalized additive model to calculate excess deaths, adjusting for seasonality and secular trend…
Validation of three predictive equations for basal metabolic rate in adults
Objective To cross-validate three predictive set of equations for basal metabolic rate (BMR) developed by Schofield (Schofield database), Henry (Oxford database) and Cole (Oxford database) using mean values for age, weight, height and BMR of published studies. Design Literature review of studies published from 1985 to March 2002. Setting All studies selected used appropriate methods and followed conditions that met the criteria established for ba…
Relation of ratio indices of anthropometric measures to obesity in a stunted population
The ratios of anthropometric measures are used to estimate obesity while controlling for allometric scaling. A good index should be uncorrelated with its denominator; this often requires exponentiation of the denominator. The stability of the derived exponents across populations is not known. We obtained subscapular (SUBS) and triceps (TRI) skinfolds, weight (WT), height (HT), waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM), and fat-free mass (FFM) in a …
Detection of cardio-metabolic risk by BMI and waist circumference among a population of Guatemalan adults
Background BMI and waist circumference (WC) are used to screen for cardio-metabolic risk; however it is unclear how well these indices perform in populations subject to childhood stunting. Objectives To evaluate BMI and WC as indicators of cardio-metabolic risk and to determine optimal cut-off points among 1325 Guatemalan adults (44 % stunted: ≤150 cm women; ≤162 cm men). Methods Cardio-metabolic risk factors were systolic/diastolic blood pressur…
Five-year changes in adiposity and cardio-metabolic risk factors among Guatemalan young adults
Background Rapidly transitioning societies are experiencing dramatic increases in obesity and cardio-metabolic risk; however, few prospective studies from developing countries have quantified these increases or described their joint relationships. Methods We collected dietary, physical activity, demographic, anthropometric and cardio-metabolic risk factor data from 376 Guatemalan young adults in 1997–98 (aged 20–29 years) and in 2002–04 (aged 25–…
Birth weight, postnatal weight gain, and adult body composition in five low and middle income countries
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the associations between birth weight (BW), infancy, and childhood weight gain and adult body composition. METHODS: Subjects included participants of five birth cohort studies from low and middle income nations (Brazil, Guatemala, India, Philippines, and South Africa; n = 3432). We modeled adult body composition as a function of BW and conditional weight gain (CW), representing changes in weight trajectory relative to peer…
Adult consequences of growth failure in early childhood
Associations of linear growth and relative weight gain during early life with adult health and human capital in countries of low and middle income
Formative research to develop a community-based intervention for chronic disease prevention in Guatemalan school-age children
These findings should help researchers in Guatemala and similar LMIC to develop community-based interventions for NCD prevention in school-age children that are effective, feasible, and culturally acceptable
Aceptabilidad de una intervención basada en salud móvil para modificar estilos de vida en prehipertensos de Argentina, Guatemala y Perú
Given the high penetration of mobile phones in developing countries, it is concluded that it is feasible and acceptable to offer a mobile health based intervention oriented towards lifestyle modification in people with prehypertension or high risk of chronic disease intervention
Opportunities for involving men and families in chronic disease management
There is an opportunity to increase the reach of interventions aimed at improving disease self-management by engaging men and family members. The proposed strategies presented by patients, family members, and providers have implications for health education and service provision at primary care health centers and for future research
Validation of a BMI cut-off point to predict an adverse cardiometabolic profile with adiposity measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in Guatemalan children
Objective To identify a body fat percentage (%BF) threshold related to an adverse cardiometabolic profile and its surrogate BMI cut-off point. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Two public schools in poor urban areas on the outskirts of Guatemala City. Subjects A convenience sample of ninety-three healthy, prepubertal, Ladino children (aged 7–12 years). Results Spearman correlations of cardiometabolic parameters were higher with %BF than with …
Healthy casetas
Developing countries have undergone transitions driven by globalization and development, accelerating increases in prevalence of overweight and obesity among children. Schools have been identified as effective settings for interventions that target children's dietary behaviors. In Guatemala, public schools commonly have food kiosks (Casetas) that sell products to children. From July through October 2013, observations during recess, in-depth inter…
Evaluation of a pilot hypertension management programme for Guatemalan adults
Corazón Sano y Feliz is a hypertension management intervention developed to address deficiencies in the management of hypertensive patients in Guatemala. From 2007 to 2009, Corazón Sano y Feliz was pilot-tested in the community of Mixco. Corazón Sano y Feliz comprises a clinical risk assessment and treatment component implemented primarily by nurses, and a health education component implemented by community health workers. To accomplish our secon…
Sociodemographic correlates and family aggregation of leukocyte telomere length in adults and children from Mesoamerica
OBJECTIVE: Telomere length is a biomarker of cumulative stress and inflammation related to chronic disease risk. We examined the associations of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with sociodemographic and anthropometric variables and estimated LTL family aggregation in Central America, a region with a high burden of chronic disease where LTL has not been studied. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 174 school age children and their par…
Correlates and family aggregation of vitamin D concentrations in school-aged children and their parents in nine Mesoamerican countries
Objective To determine the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, diet and outdoor activity as an indicator of sun exposure with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in children and their parents from Mesoamerica. We also quantified family aggregation of serum 25(OH)D. Design Cross-sectional study. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were quantified using immunoassay. We compared the distribution of 25(OH)D concentrations in adu…
Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of metabolic syndrome in school-aged children and their parents in nine Mesoamerican countries
Objective To ascertain the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of cardiometabolic risk factors in adults and school-aged children from Mesoamerica. Design Cross-sectional study with convenience sampling. In adults, metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. In children, we calculated a continuous sex- and age-standardized metabolic risk score using …
Global benchmarking of children's exposure to television advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages across 22 countries
Restricting children's exposures to marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages is a global obesity prevention priority. Monitoring marketing exposures supports informed policymaking. This study presents a global overview of children's television advertising exposure to healthy and unhealthy products. Twenty‐two countries contributed data, captured between 2008 and 2017. Advertisements were coded for the nature of foods and beverages, using the 20…
Television food and beverage marketing to children in Costa Rica
Objective: To examine the frequency of television (TV) food and beverage advertisements (F&B ads) to which children (4–11 years) are likely exposed and the nutrient profile of products advertised. Design: TV broadcasting between September and November 2016 was recorded (288 h of children’s programming; 288 h of family programming) resulting in 8980 advertisements, of which 1862 were F&B ads. Of those, 1473 could be classified into one of the seve…
Socio-economic and ethnic disparities of malnutrition in all its forms in Guatemala
Objective: To analyse disparities of malnutrition in all its forms by socio-economic indicators in children aged Design: We defined wasting/underweight, stunting/short stature, overweight and obesity following the WHO criteria for children aged Setting: Guatemalan 2014–2015 National Maternal and Child Health Survey. Participants: Children aged n 11 962), adolescent girls aged 15–19 years ( n 1086) and WRA aged 20–49 years ( n 11 354). Results: St…
Lack of nutrient declarations and low nutritional quality of pre-packaged foods sold in Guatemalan supermarkets
Objective: To assess the presence of nutrition declarations and nutritional quality in pre-packaged food products sold in Guatemala. Design: We photographed nutrition labels of pre-packaged foods. We extracted information about declaration of energy, total/saturated/trans-fats, total/added sugars and Na content (critical nutrients). We classified all products according to their degree of processing (NOVA classification) and nutritional quality (P…
Socioeconomic position over the life-course and subjective social status in relation to nutritional status and mental health among Guatemalan adults
Subjective social status was independently associated with happiness and psychological distress in middle adulthood after adjusting for objective SEP. Moreover, association of objective SEP with health was not mediated by SSS, suggesting potentially independent pathways
Changes in asset-based wealth across the life course in birth cohorts from five low- and middle-income countries
Temporally-harmonized asset indices displayed coherence with cross-sectional indices as well as construct validity with schooling
Relative and absolute wealth mobility since birth in relation to health and human capital in middle adulthood
Higher attained schooling provided a pathway for upward relative mobility and higher absolute wealth gains as well as protection against downward relative mobility. Upward mobility was associated with lower psychological distress and higher fluid intelligence but also higher weight status
Cognitive and socio-emotional correlates of psychological well-being and mental health in Guatemalan adults
Of all examined factors, spirituality and religion made the greatest contribution to psychological well-being. These findings support the notion that in populations experiencing difficult circumstances, religion can perhaps make a greater contribution to well-being and aid coping. More research is needed to examine mediators of this association
B-vitamins and metabolic syndrome in Mesoamerican children and their adult parents
Objective: To examine the associations between vitamins of the methionine-homocysteine (Hcys) cycle (B 6 , B 12 and folate) and Hcys with metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Mesoamerican children and their adult parents. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Exposures were plasma vitamins B 6 and B 12 concentrations, erythrocyte folate and plasma Hcys. In children, the outcome was a continuous metabolic risk score calculated through sex- and …
Medicine (35 obras) · Demography (23 obras) · Environmental health (17 obras) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (17 obras) · Obesity (14 obras) · Birth, Development, and Health (12 obras) · Demography (12 obras) · Gerontology (12 obras) · Internal Medicine (12 obras) · Population (12 obras)