Global health. The current scenario and future perspectives

153 Epidemiology To review the epidemiology, we will focus on the most prevalent diseases falling under the category of NCDs, particularly those related to diet and lifestyle. Mental health disorders will be excluded as they have specific factors and will be addressed in a separate chapter. Obesity Obesity is an inflammatory condition that can lead to the development of diseases such as type II diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. It is directly linked to high-energy diets, and various studies have shown that the consumption of ultra processed foods is associated with its development (Nardocci et al., 2019; OPS & OMS, 2015; Rauber et al., 2020; Sandoval-Insausti et al., 2020). Apart from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, excess malnutrition represents the main public health problem in Chile and affects 74.2% of the adult population. Of pregnant women receiving care from the National Health Services 64% are affected and 54% of school children are affected. In adults, excess malnutrition is divided into 39.8% overweight and 34.4% obesity, while in pregnant women, obesity prevalence (32.37%) has surpassed overweight prevalence (31.84%). As for children, the figures show 29% overweight and 25% obesity (Ministerio de Salud de Chile, 2017). Health surveys in Chile indicate that obesity is higher in women than in men (38.4% versus 30.3%) and in individuals with lower educational levels (46.6% in people with less than 8 years of education versus 29.5% in people with more than 12 years of education). (Junaeb et al., 2020). Globally, according to the World Health Organization, in 2016, excess malnutrition in the adult population reached 52%, with 39% overweight and 13% obese (WHO, 2021b). In Latin America, prevalences are much higher with 83.6% excess malnutrition, with Mexico standing out with 75%, followed by Chile with 74% and in third place the USA with 71% (FAO et al., 2019). Diabetes There are two types of diabetes: insulin production failure and insulin resistance (Care & Suppl, 2018). The latter is closely linked to obesity (Leto & Saltiel, 2012). In Chile, the latest national health survey showed a diabetes prevalence of 12.3%, which is higher in individuals with less than 8 years of education (25.3% versus 7.7% in those with more than 12 years of education) (Ministerio de Salud de Chile, 2017).