Last Thursday, September 17, the first INUMI Webinar took place: "Hypothalamic obesity after craniopharyngioma: diagnosis, treatment and new therapies.".

The event included two presentations: “The neurosurgeon’s perspective: prevention of hypothalamic damage during craniopharyngioma surgery” by Dr. Guido Gromadzyn (Garrahan Hospital) and “Acquired Hypothalamic Obesity After the Craniopharyngioma: Prevention and Emerging Therapies” (“Acquired Hypothalamic Obesity After the Craniopharyngioma: Prevention and Emerging Therapies”) by the Prof. Dr. Hanneke van Santen (University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands).

During this meeting, the experts addressed prevention strategies, recent advances, and new therapeutic alternatives for the management of acquired hypothalamic obesity following this treatment.

The webinar video is available on our YouTube channel, INUMI Institute:

Some of the symposia and debates they participated in were:

• Childhood obesity: decisions in the doctor's office
• Mini debate: Networks and technology, yes or no?
• Pharmacotherapy in childhood: From when? To whom? How to prescribe it?
• Eating behavior and obesity
• Adolescence today
• Obesity in very young children: when nutritional intervention doesn't seem to work, what do we do? A case study

The conference took place on September 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The complete program It is available here

The theme of this 2026 edition will be "The Power of Words": How language shapes the way we think and feel about what we eat.

The Responsible Communication in Science and Health Forum is an academic activity with a multidisciplinary approach where scientists, health professionals, food production professionals, nutritionists and communicators meet to share experiences and face the challenges of communicating the science behind food in a climate of post-truth and infodemic.

With a format of talks and presentations, the event is free and open to the public.

The Forum has been held continuously since 2019 and has successfully overcome post-pandemic challenges, transitioning from an in-person model to a fully online format, and now operating in a hybrid format for Argentina and Latin America. For several years, it has been a central activity within the InfoAlimentos Program, "Communicating Science with Awareness," serving as a platform for debate and exchange among professionals from various fields, addressing diverse topics related to science, health, and food communication.

When we speak, the words we choose make all the difference. In academic settings, we tend to use jargon; at home, more colloquial language. But language is never that simple: the same term can vary depending on the context, the education of the listener or user, and even the culture they belong to. Words that sound familiar and friendly to some can generate rejection or fear in others. This leads us to ask: when we talk about food, do words mean the same thing to everyone? What happens to our diet when we interpret certain terms differently or incorrectly? In this forum, we will explore the journey of food—from its improvement to its arrival on the table—and at each stage, we will examine the world of words: how they influence our perceptions and the decisions we make when choosing what to eat.

– DOWNLOAD THE 2026 FORUM PROGRAM HERE –

REGISTER HERE

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
– A CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION WILL BE AWARDED –

We are pleased to announce the signing of a scientific, academic and research cooperation agreement between the Institute of Nutrition and Metabolism for Children and Adolescents (INUMI), in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the prestigious PENSI Institute, in São Paulo, Brazil.

Both institutions share a commitment to supporting children, adolescents, and their families in all aspects of nutritional health. They also actively work to contribute to the development of scientific knowledge in pediatric and adolescent health and to create high-quality academic programs for the continuing education of healthcare professionals.

This agreement will allow for the promotion of joint research projects, the exchange of knowledge and experiences between professional teams, and the development of new academic and scientific initiatives of regional scope.

We are convinced that this alliance will enhance the work of both institutions and strengthen the construction of a Latin American cooperation network, for the benefit of science, health professionals, patients and their families.

We celebrate this union and the beginning of a new stage of growth and collaboration!

When we talk about appetite, we often think simply of the desire to eat. However, appetite is a much more complex phenomenon. Each person responds differently to hunger, satiety, and the many other food-related cues. These individual characteristics are known as "appetite traits.".

Some people quickly recognize when they are full and stop eating, while others continue eating even after their energy needs have been met. Some experience an intense response to the presence, aroma, or availability of food; others, on the other hand, show little interest in food or reach satiety easily.

These differences are not due to a single factor. The biological regulation of hunger and satiety interacts with the mechanisms that control energy intake and expenditure. The outcome of this complex interaction influences the final energy balance and, over time, can help explain different trajectories of weight and metabolic health.

The influence of genetics

To better understand this process, we can analyze four major areas: genetics, central regulation of hunger and satiety, the effect of nutrients, and the influence of the environment.

Our relationship with food has, in part, a genetic basis. Studies conducted with twins, especially monozygotic twins—who share virtually all of their genetic information—show that certain traits of eating behavior and appetite regulation can have significant heritability.

This doesn't mean that our eating habits are determined solely by our genes, nor that they are impossible to change. It means that there is a biological predisposition that helps explain why people can respond differently to the same foods or situations.

Some people may be more sensitive to hunger signals; others, have a lower response to satiety or a greater attraction to certain foods. Recognizing this variability allows us to understand that appetite does not depend solely on willpower or self-control.

The central regulation of hunger and satiety

The second key aspect is the central regulation of appetite. The brain contains regulatory circuits and centers that receive, integrate, and interpret signals from the body and the environment. Based on this information, they control food intake, energy expenditure, and energy balance.

These mechanisms are involved both in the beginning and end of a meal. They also play a role in food seeking, reward perception, and the body's adaptation to changes in energy availability.

Its function is not solely related to the development of excess weight or a positive energy balance. It can also operate in the opposite direction and contribute to low weight or a negative energy balance. Therefore, alterations or differences in appetite regulation can manifest in various ways, and not only through increased food intake.

The effect of nutrients

Nutrients can also modulate appetite traits. Not all foods or nutrients produce the same hunger, satiety, and reward responses.

The composition of a meal can influence how long a person remains satisfied, how quickly hunger returns, and how much food they subsequently consume. It can also modify the pleasurable experience associated with eating.

These responses influence the amount of food consumed, the frequency of meals, and ultimately, energy balance. Therefore, to understand eating behavior, it is not enough to consider only how many calories a food provides: it is also necessary to observe how its composition affects the internal signals that regulate appetite.

The role of the environment

Although there is a biological and genetic basis, appetite traits are always expressed within a context. Food availability, family practices, early experiences, external cues, and the food environment constantly interact with individual predisposition.

The constant presence of food, its accessibility, advertising, portion sizes, family schedules, and experiences associated with eating can either facilitate or hinder the recognition of internal hunger and satiety signals.

The environment does not replace biology, just as genetics does not eliminate the influence of the environment. Both components are related and modify each other throughout life.

An integrative perspective

Understanding appetite requires integrating these four levels: genetics, central regulation, nutrients, and environment. None of them, considered in isolation, can fully explain why we eat the way we do.

This holistic approach helps us understand why appetite varies from person to person and why the same dietary recommendation can produce different responses. It also allows us to move beyond simplistic explanations based solely on individual willpower.

Appetite is the result of a complex process involving biological predisposition, bodily signals, food characteristics, and our living environment. Recognizing this complexity is essential to understanding how individual differences can influence weight trajectories and metabolic health.

By: Irina Kovalskys. Medical Director
INUMI

Understanding childhood eating difficulties without falling into myths or blame.

It's a common scene in thousands of homes: a child who only accepts a few foods, refuses vegetables, takes forever to finish their plate, or seems to have no appetite. Faced with this situation, worry, frustration, and doubt often arise.

Is this just a phase? Will he be lacking nutrients? Am I doing something wrong?

The good news is that most feeding difficulties are a normal part of childhood development and can be resolved with appropriate support. However, some situations require further evaluation to rule out medical or nutritional problems.

Eating difficulties are much more common than we imagine.

It is estimated that between one in four and one in three healthy children Does this child experience any difficulties related to feeding at some point? Despite being so frequent, around [number missing] 20 % does not receive an adequate diagnosis, which can delay treatment when it is really needed. 

It's important to understand that "eating difficulties" doesn't necessarily mean the child has an eating disorder. It's a broad term that includes various eating-related behaviors that can have very different causes.

Not all children who eat little have the same problem.

There are three main situations that pediatricians commonly encounter.

The selective child

• This is the most frequent case.
• She only accepts a limited range of foods, refuses to try new ones, and often eliminates foods she previously ate without problems. This is typical between the ages of 2 and 6 and usually coincides with a normal developmental stage in which children seek greater independence and show some distrust of unfamiliar foods.
• This does not necessarily mean that he is malnourished.

The child with little appetite

• In this case the problem is not the variety but the quantity.
• The child seems to get full very quickly, eats small portions, and shows little interest in food. This can sometimes be related to illness, slower growth periods, or simply lower energy requirements.
• The important thing is to assess whether that appetite is sufficient to maintain adequate growth.

The child who is afraid to eat

• It is a less frequent situation, but it requires attention.
• Some children begin to refuse food after an unpleasant experience, such as choking, severe vomiting, or pain when swallowing. In these cases, the refusal is not due to a lack of hunger, but rather to a fear of eating again. 

When does a normal stage cease to be normal?

Many children go through periods of greater selectivity that disappear spontaneously over time.

However, there are some signs that warrant consulting a pediatrician:

• weight loss or lack of growth; 
• persistent rejection of entire food groups; 
• meals that regularly last more than 30 minutes; 
• frequent choking or difficulty swallowing; 
• repeated vomiting during meals; 
• pain when eating; 
• constant need to distract the child so that he eats; 
• anxiety or significant family conflicts surrounding food. 

The presence of these signs requires a more complete evaluation to rule out medical, nutritional, or developmental problems. 

Growth matters more than a plate of food

One of the first questions parents ask is:

«"Are you eating enough?"»

The answer isn't always in what happened during lunch.

Pediatricians evaluate nutrition by considering growth over time. Weight, height, and their evolution on growth charts provide much more information than a single meal.

A child can eat less than his siblings and yet grow perfectly well because his needs are different.

Conversely, a child who apparently eats "well" may experience difficulties if they stop growing properly.

What parents can do at home

Often, with small changes in family dynamics, eating habits improve considerably.

The recommendations with the strongest scientific support include:

• maintain regular meal times; 
• eat as a family whenever possible; 
• avoid screens during meals; 
• Offer new foods repeatedly, without forcing the child to eat them; 
• allow him to participate in food preparation; 
• respect the signs of hunger and satiety; 
• Avoid rewards, punishments, or negotiations around food. 

A very important aspect is understanding that Trying a new food may require between 8 and 15 exposures. before a child accepts it. Initial rejection does not mean they will never incorporate it into their diet. 

What to avoid

With the best intentions, many families end up using strategies that increase the problem.

Among the most frequent are:

• chase the child around the house with the food; 
• force him to finish the dish; 
• cook a different menu for each member of the family; 
• offer sweets as a reward; 
• turn every meal into a negotiation. 

These behaviors often increase anxiety in both children and adults and make it difficult to learn healthy eating habits.

Are studies or supplements always necessary?

No.

Most children with feeding difficulties do not need complex studies.

The pediatrician will decide when it is necessary to order laboratory tests or prescribe nutritional supplements. This will depend on the child's growth, the variety of foods consumed, the presence of associated illnesses, and any suspected nutritional deficiencies.

The goal will always be to achieve adequate oral nutrition before resorting to other interventions. 

Teamwork makes the difference

Eating difficulties are not always resolved solely with nutritional guidance.

Depending on each case, the participation of different professionals may be necessary, such as pediatricians, nutritionists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists or pediatric gastroenterologists.

This interdisciplinary approach makes it possible to identify the causes of the problem and design an individualized plan for each child.

A message to take home

Most eating difficulties are temporary and can improve with appropriate strategies, patience, and support.

The challenge lies in differentiating between situations that are part of development and those that pose a risk to growth, nutrition, or health.

Parents shouldn't feel guilty when a child goes through a phase of food refusal, but neither should they minimize the warning signs. Consulting a pediatrician early allows for the identification of the few children who need a more specialized evaluation and prevents a minor problem from becoming a persistent difficulty.

Based on: Saure C, Zonis LN, González Sanguineti X, Kovalskys I. Feeding difficulties in childhood: a narrative review. Argentine Archives of Pediatrics. 2024;122(5):e202310200.

Every baby has its own growth rate during pregnancy. However, some are born with a lower weight than expected for their gestational age. These babies are called small for gestational age (SGA).

Although most of these babies grow and develop normally, some require closer monitoring to ensure proper growth and prevent long-term health problems.

What does it mean to be small for gestational age?

A baby is considered small for gestational age when their birth weight and/or length is below what is expected for the weeks of pregnancy. This does not always mean the baby is premature. In fact, many babies are born at term (between 37 and 42 weeks) but are smaller than usual.

It is important to differentiate between babies who are naturally small, due to family characteristics, and those whose growth during pregnancy was limited by various causes.

Why does this happen?

The reasons can be very diverse, and in many cases, more than one factor is involved at the same time. Among the most frequent causes are:

• Alterations in placental function.
• Maternal illnesses such as high blood pressure or preeclampsia.
• Smoking, alcohol consumption or other substances during pregnancy.
• Multiple pregnancies.
• Some rare infections or genetic disorders.

In some children it is not possible to identify a specific cause.

What happens after birth?

The good news is that Between 85 and 90%, babies born small for gestational age experience catch-up growth. during the first two years of life, especially in the first 6 to 12 months.

However, some children do not achieve this recovery spontaneously and may present with persistent short stature, requiring evaluation by specialists.

The importance of nutrition

Nutrition during the first months of life plays a fundamental role.

The breastfeeding It is the best option for most PEG babies, as it provides all the necessary nutrients and offers benefits for neurological development, the immune system, and future health.

When breastfeeding is not possible or is not sufficient, the pediatrician will indicate the most appropriate alternative for each situation.

The goal is to promote healthy growth, avoiding both insufficient growth and excessively rapid recovery.

Why is it important to avoid excessively rapid weight gain?

For many years it was believed that the faster a small baby grew, the better its prognosis. Today we know that this is not always the case.

Excessively rapid weight gain, especially if it occurs during the first few months of life, can increase the future risk of developing:

• Overweight and obesity.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• High blood pressure.
• Cardiovascular diseases.

Therefore, the challenge is to achieve balanced growth, allowing for adequate development without promoting an excess of adipose tissue.

Do they need special controls?

Yes. Children born small for gestational age should be monitored regularly by their pediatrician, who may eventually consider consulting with a specialist in pediatric nutrition.

Each consultation includes the following assessments:

• Weight, length or height and head circumference.
• Growth rate.
• Neurological development.
• Feeding.
• Appearance of associated diseases.

If growth does not progress as expected, further studies may be necessary, and in some cases, consultation with a pediatric nutritionist and endocrinologist may be required.

A message for families

Being born small for gestational age does not determine a child's future. The vast majority grow and develop normally.

Pediatric monitoring, proper nutrition, and regular check-ups allow for the early detection of children who need special attention.

The goal is not for the baby to grow as quickly as possible, but to achieve healthy growth that promotes their present development and health throughout their life.

Fountain

This note was prepared based on the chapter:

Kovalskys I, Mazza CS. Infants Born Small for Gestational Age at Term. In: Koletzko B, Poindexter B, Uauy R, eds. Pediatric Nutrition in Practice. World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics. Vol. 124. Basel: Karger; 2022:338-344. doi:10.1159/000516707.

We are pleased to share the official statement announcing INUMI's partnership with InfoAlimentos, a leading national and international source of information on nutrition and health. This strategic alliance represents INUMI's direct participation within a entity whose objective is the dissemination of scientifically based information, research and academic quality, and which also reaches a representative audience: The InfoAlimentos website surpasses one million annual readers.

«"June, 2026. We are pleased to announce that the Institute of Nutrition and Metabolism for Children and Adolescents, INUMI, is joining the Editorial Board of InfoAlimentos. 

In 2025, the Institute for Scientific Cooperation in Environment and Health (ICCAS) – the civil association that was part of InfoAlimentos from our beginnings – ceased operations. This event, along with the loss of our beloved Scientific Coordinator, Dr. Silvio Schraier, led us to reorganize.

This is how INUMI joins the InfoAlimentos family today. INUMI is a leading center specializing in the nutritional health of children and adolescents, whose purpose is to provide comprehensive, evidence-based solutions to the metabolic and dietary challenges facing new generations. It is built on three strategic pillars: 

– Specialized Clinical Care
– Academy and Training
– Clinical Research

With the arrival of INUMI, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Silvio Schraier's legacy continues, that we retain the valuable participation of the professionals who were part of ICCAS (some of whom are at INUMI), and that the work generated by ICCAS (talks, studies, etc.) remains available to our followers. www.infoalimentos.org.ar, in www.inumi.ar and in the virtual library of www.argenbio.org. 

Thus, InfoAlimentos is currently made up of three institutions: ArgenBio, HA Barceló Foundation e INUMI. To meet the full team, we invite you to visit https://infoalimentos.org.ar/acerca/equipo.»

Fountain: Urban Press