Mexico surpasses US in obesity

Mexico has surpassed the United States in levels of adult obesity, though the country remains far below levels found in some island nations and parts of the Middle East.

Mexican activists and academics are expressing concern about the dubious distinction, noting that some Mexicans remain malnourished while others are becoming obese.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says in a recent report that 32.8 percent of Mexicans suffer obesity, compared to 31.8 percent of Americans. Egypt clocks in at 34.6 percent and Kuwait at 42.8 percent, though they are still far below the 71.1 percent-level of Nauru, a Micronesian island state in the Pacific.

Activists said Wednesday that Mexico's adoption of processed foods and the abandonment of the country's have contributed to a severe .

© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Citation: Mexico surpasses US in obesity (2013, July 10) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-07-mexico-surpasses-obesity.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Second to US in obesity, Mexico wants kids to slim down

 shares

Feedback to editors