Obesity in Mexico: rapid epidemiological transition and food industry interference in health policies

Abstract

Obesity is the leading public health concern in Mexico and has been on the rise for the past 30 years. Its evolution has been illustrated by four nationally representative health and nutrition surveys (2000, 2006, 2012, 2018). During this period, adult obesity increased 42·2%, after adjusting for population change.1 In the latest national survey (2018), 36·1% of adults had obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), with a substantially higher prevalence in women than in men (40·2% vs 30·5%).1 Results also showed only 23·5% of the adult population had a healthy weight (BMI ≤25 kg/m2), with even less adults in the 40–49 age group (15·4%).