The Shield of Achilles: Mexico is now the second fattest nation

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Mexico is now the second fattest nation

I found this article via Right-Thinking.com. This is unbelievable, even to me:

MEXICO CITY – Fueled by the rising popularity of soft drinks and fast food restaurants, Mexico has become the second-fattest nation in the world. Mexican health officials say it could surpass the United States as the most obese country within 10 years if trends continue.

More than 71 percent of Mexican women and 66 percent of Mexican men are overweight, according to the latest national surveys.

With diabetes now Mexico's leading cause of death, activists and leaders hope to renew efforts to crack down on fatty-food consumption and encourage citizens to exercise more. But it will be a tough battle, as industry groups are expected to put up a fight.
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In 1989, fewer than 10 percent of Mexican adults were overweight. No one in the country even talked about obesity back then, said Barry Popkin, a University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill professor who studies global weight gain. Experts were too concerned with poverty and hunger.

It's also worth noting that the world's heaviest man, Manuel Uribe, is also a Mexican.

Some of this change is certainly cultural, but it's also a reminder of how wealthy Mexico is. The per capita income is $12,500 which is higher than the majority of nations in the world. Compare this number to nations like China ($5300), India ($2,700) Malawi ($800), just to name a few.

In the debate over illegal immigration, poverty is usually mentioned as a factor. Hopefully this can help us put the issue back into proper perspective.

For a little more on Mexico and wealth, check out my earlier post here.