Why is the overweight and obesity prevalence in Mexico so high?
The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mexico is not the result of a single factor, but rather of an array of cultural, structural, socioeconomic, and even genetic determinants that contribute to the upsurge of these two medical conditions. While Mexicans are of the opinion that the main causes of obesity are unhealthy habits, a high junk/fast food supply, and a lack of nutritional information, the issue is complex and largely impacted by structural components and environmental characteristics partly related to the social and economic development of the country in recent years. Dietary changes and a more prevalent level of sedentarism are the result of more modern life habits recently adopted by certain sectors of the Mexican population, and highly influenced by working and living conditions, and the availability patterns of an assortment of goods and services.According to public opinion, having a healthy diet, exercising, the availability of preventive information, and reducing the consumption of unhealthy food are the main actions necessary to prevent obesity. Moreover, Mexicans believe that the government should endorse preventive information campaigns, ban and regulate the supply of unhealthy food, and promote school programs focused on the issue. In fact, the Mexican government has carried out efforts to address the situation, with programs that ban certain products from schools, marketing policies for children’s goods, movement campaigns, and warning labels in food products containing unhealthy amounts of certain ingredients such as sugar and salt.