Mexico becomes the most obese nation in America

For many years, the United States has been touted as the country with the highest obesity rate in the world. First, it’s not really the case, because the country with the most obese adults is Nauru (in the Pacific) with 71.1% of obese people (having a BMI greater than 30 therefore), and 93% of people at least overweight (having a BMI greater than 25). Figures for the year 2008 .

However, still on the figures of the year 2008, the Organization for Agriculture and Food of the United Nations, the FAO, indicates that Mexico has a rate of obesity higher than that of the United States (source: http ://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3300e/i3300e.pdf ).

This study refocuses the debate around the fact that obesity is a global problem. It affects all countries and all continents: the United States of America, despite its high rate of obesity (31.8%) is therefore not the most affected country. Mexico had, in 2008, 32.8% obese.

These figures reported last month therefore make it possible to update the sad podium of the “most obese” countries around the world.

The UN, through the word of its rapporteur, Oliver De Schut, indicated in 2011 that Mexico was one of those countries that suffered from ubiquitous junk food. 45% of the food consumed in Mexico is imported. The proximity to the United States is an obstacle in the objective of accessing healthier food; and for proof: in Mexico, the North is more affected by obesity than the South.

In Mexico, the same findings are made as in other countries: obesity first affects the least well-off families (this is also the case in France, see the ObEpi 2012 survey or our Quiz on obesity in France ).

In April 2013, on the occasion of World Health Day. The President of Mexico (Peña Nieto), recalled his involvement in the fight against obesity. He had indicated that one of the pillars to fight against obesity as well as against diabetes was prevention . A concept that it is indeed essential to consider, at present, but this is an extremely difficult awareness, many individuals are not really aware of the dangers of obesity.