Nutrition experts warn of health risks for children in Argentina and Spain

Health experts in Argentina and Spain are raising concerns regarding the nutritional quality of diets for children and adolescents.

In Argentina, a specialist from Profeni noted that the decentralized school feeding system in Entre Ríos leads to inconsistencies in food quality. The researcher reported that some school breakfasts consist essentially of “agua azucarada” (sugary water). He also criticized current labeling legislation, arguing that nutritional value should be assessed by complete composition—including proteins, vitamins, and minerals—rather than just the presence of warning labels based on calorie proportions.

In Spain, Dr. Fernando Zárate, director of the School Cardiovascular Health Program, highlighted that the environment favoring sedentary lifestyles and ultra-processed foods is a primary driver of childhood obesity. While obesity rates show signs of stabilization, over 35% of Spanish children are overweight. Medical professionals are observing increasingly early instances of fatty liver and insulin resistance in children as young as 8 or 9 years old.