New Policies Launched as Mexico Combats 'World's Fattest Country' Label Isabel Crowley - The Guardian
go to original February 27, 2014

Obesity is a multi-factor phenomenon and must be dealt with as such. (CBC)

In 2006, following publication of the National Health and Nutrition Survey, newspaper headlines were damning: "Mexico: nation of obese" or "Mexico: world's fattest country."

The bad press zeroed in on children and adolescents. In 2012, close to 35% of those between 5 and 19 were classified overweight or obese, which not only presented a public health problem, but a public funding crisis as well. Estimates indicate that obesity costs the Mexican government more than 5bn dollars each year, and forecasts indicate that by 2017, this amount will exceed 11bn.

Newspaper headlines on child obesity might be more positive in the near future thanks to recent public policy decisions made by the Mexican government and legislators, such as the approval of a 10% tax on flavored drinks with added sugar and another 8% tax on high calorie foods. Another reason for optimism is the 2013 education reform, which established the obligation to provide nutritional meals to students, prohibit the sale and consumption of unhealthy foods in schools, and encourage nutrition education and physical activity.

Additionally, the government recently launched the National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Overweight, Obesity and Diabetes, which is underpinned by public health, medical attention, fiscal policy and health regulations, particularly in relation to information on the nutritional content of foods on labels and advertising.

Read the rest at The Guardian
 

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