[Intercultural Perspective: An Essential Approach in the Prevention and Management of Childhood Obesity].

Abstract

Childhood obesity is one of the main public health challenges today. As a multi-causal problem, its prevalence is significantly higher in families with a disadvantaged socioeconomic status. In a context marked by growing social inequalities and the rapid increase in the foreign population in Spain, and considering the close relationship between obesity, poverty, and cultural origin, low-income migrant families are particularly affected by this problem. At the Programme for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity in Catalonia (POICAT), we consider that incorporating an intercultural perspective is essential to preventing and treating childhood obesity. Therefore, in this article, we reflect on the interaction between cultural diversity, obesity and community action. We also present examples of actions that allow the intercultural perspective to be introduced into the work of professionals who interact with children and their families. Although incorporating an intercultural perspective is challenging, it is essential. It shifts the focus from individual responsibility to the structures that generate inequalities, promoting actions that are more equitable.