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Mexico is experiencing a health emergency due to the prevalence of overweight and obesity.
Diabetes has become the leading cause of death among Mexicans, said Mikel Arriola, head of the Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (COFEPRIS).
In an interview with EL UNIVERSAL, Arriola said that overweight and obesity "have not stopped growing since the late 90's."
Seven out of every 10 Mexicans are overweight and obese, and in the case of children, one of every three. Also, around 6.4 million people have diabetes in Mexico.
Providing medical services to this people costs around 42 billion pesos (US$2.6 billion).
He explained that the costs associated with these two factors, that lead to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, account for almost half of the total health budget.
As an example, the official noted that a diabetic patient controlled with insulin costs 150 pesos (US$9.2), while a dialysis patient in an advanced stage of the disease costs 150,000 pesos (US$9,278).
He added that overweight and obesity, the main cause of diabetes, are result of changes in nutrition habits, migration of people from the countryside to the city and the transition from food cooked at home to processed products.
Arriola explained that a National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Overweight, Obesity and Diabetes was launched in 2013 to stop their rising prevalence. The strategy has three pillars: prevention, public health and regulatory measures, such as imposing a special tax for high-calorie food and changing labeling rules.
