Dr Arya Sharma recently spoke at the XII Congreso Internacional Avances en Medicina 2010 hosted by the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara.
There is indeed no denying that Mexico, as does everyone else in North America, has a substantial obesity problem.
As recently pointed out by Dudley Althaus, who writes for the Houston Chronicle:
“Though still afflicted by large pockets of the malnourished poor, Mexico is fat and quickly getting fatter, its children gaining weight faster than anyone else in the country.
About 70 percent of Mexican adults are now overweight, according to government estimates, more than triple the number of three decades ago. Also, about a third of the country’s schoolchildren and teenagers are overweight, making Mexicans the second-heaviest people on the planet, gaining quickly on their American neighbors.
With more people living in urban areas, and some with more money, Mexicans are eating more and exercising less. Forgoing the beans, tortillas, fruit and vegetables their grandparents ate, people flock to U.S.-style fast food.
Also, calorie-laden Mexican dishes once reserved for special occasions have become routine fare. Anything fried; packaged pastries, soft drinks and candy are widely available.”
Not surprisingly, last month, Mexican President Felipe Calderon launched a national campaign against obesity (beating the US Obama initiative by a few weeks) and called on parents, teachers and the food industry to guide people to more healthful living.
Whether or not this appeal will indeed have any noticeable impact on the obesity epidemic remains to be seen. From Dr Sharma’s conversations with fellow delegates, at least the interest and concerns amongst health professionals seems considerable - but so does their sense of helplessness.
About the Author;
Dr Arya M, Sharma is Professor of Medicine & Chair in Obesity Research and Management at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. He is also the Scientific Director of the Canadian Obesity Network. He has published widely on the management of obesity and related health problems.
For more information on Obesity visit;
http://www.drsharma.ca/
