Impacto de la escasez calórica estacional en la composición corporal y el gasto energético de adolescentes campesinos de Calakmul, Campeche, México

Abstract

A time allocation analysis was performed on 16 peasant families from two different adaptive strategies in the municipio of Calakmul, Campeche Mexico. These strategies were called “peasant traditional strategy” (PTS), and kin productive network (KPN). Each family type was observed and its members measured for 12 months from June 2001 to May 2002. Both types of families in Calakmul had to adapt to seasonal caloric stress before the harvest. During these lean times, adolescent fat stores were depleted, reducing body weight and basal metabolic rate leading to an increase in energy efficiency. Female adolescents lost greater amounts of adipose tissue than males. Female adolescents spent a greater part of their energy budgets in productive activities. Male adolescents spent more energy than women in recreational activities and resting. Both strategies seem to be well adapted to seasonal stress. Nevertheless, women in KPS households were better nourished and thus, their body weight was more sensitive to seasonal variation in energy availability than KPS female adolescents.