Introduction
Mexico’s obesity and diabetes epidemic has transcended being merely a public health concern; it is now an economic and social time bomb threatening to overwhelm the national healthcare system. With nearly three-quarters of adults affected by overweight or obesity and more than 18% of the adult population—over 20 million people—suffering from diabetes, Mexico faces an unsustainable burden.
Government Acknowledgment and Current Efforts
The Mexican government recognizes the gravity of the situation, as expressed by Subsecretary of Health, Eduardo Clark, during a presidential conference. The health sector allocates approximately 180 billion pesos annually to manage complications arising from obesity, diabetes, and hypertension across public systems such as IMSS, ISSSTE, IMSS Bienestar, Pemex, Sedena, and Semar. However, Clark failed to mention that this amount is insufficient; what’s missing is a comprehensive strategy with resources to tackle the deep crisis.
The issue extends beyond disease prevalence, encompassing poor management and severe consequences. With an estimated 100,000 patients with chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis or hemodialysis, costing around 415,000 pesos per patient annually, the focus should be on prevention rather than treatment. Moreover, 40% of consultations in IMSS family medicine units are directly related to these conditions.
Government’s Focus and Critique
The government emphasizes excessive consumption of sugary drinks and junk food, blaming manufacturing companies as primary culprits. In response, they’ve increased special excise taxes (IEPS) on these products, expecting to generate an additional 41 billion pesos in revenue. While this measure may discourage consumption and yield public funds, it’s grossly inadequate to address an epidemic of this magnitude. The 40 billion pales compared to the 180 billion already spent on treatments, and it fails to tackle the root causes of the problem.
Historical Context and Previous Recommendations
This crisis isn’t new; it’s been extensively diagnosed for decades. We all know—repeated ad nauseam—that one in three children and adolescents, along with seven out of ten adults in Mexico, are affected by overweight or obesity. It’s our primary epidemic, yet we haven’t implemented comprehensive strategies to combat it since 2012. Dr. David Kershenobich, now the Secretary of Health, along with UNAM’s former rector José Narro Robles and a multidisciplinary group of experts in nutrition, health, agriculture, economics, politics, psychology, anthropology, and sociology, authored the report “Obesity in Mexico: Recommendations for a State Policy.” This document stressed the need for a multifactorial approach.
In 2018, the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), led by Juan Rivera, published “The Obesity Epidemic in Mexico: State of Public Policy and Specific Recommendations for Prevention and Control,” featuring over 75 scientists. The prologue highlights that Mexico’s high obesity rate reflects a complex, multifactorial reality influenced by health and social determinants like access to healthy foods, cultural patterns, urban environments discouraging physical activity, and psychological and economic factors.
Key Proposals and Critique
Crucial proposals include regulating food and beverage advertising targeting children, preventive interventions in schools, communication campaigns promoting healthy lifestyle changes, and policies encouraging physical activity in communities and workplaces. The book also addresses product reformulation to reduce sugars and fats, strengthening sustainable agriculture for better access to fresh produce, and involving civil society in educational programs. It’s not just about taxing sodas; a holistic approach integrating health, education, economics, and urban planning is necessary.
Persisting with a reductionist view, focusing solely on sugary drink and processed food consumption, as President Claudia Sheinbaum’s discourse suggests, will continue to exact a high toll on lives, resources, and productivity. The unsustainable burden of obesity and diabetes demands immediate, comprehensive actions based on scientific evidence and intersectoral collaboration.
Emerging Therapeutic Options
On a related note, new therapeutic options address diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and heart issues simultaneously—collectively known as the cardiorenal metabolic syndrome (CRM). Boehringer Ingelheim is introducing empagliflozin, aiming to treat CRM concurrently by breaking the cycle linking these conditions and offering improved quality of life with fewer complications to those living with it.
Upcoming Events
Lastly, the ExpoFac organized by RX México for the retail pharmaceutical and personal care industry is approaching its third edition, taking place in Guadalajara’s Expo on October 8-9. Approximately 3,000 attendees are expected from regions like Guadalajara, Michoacán, León, and Colima, as well as Yucatán, Monterrey, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tijuana, and Tamaulipas. Thirty scholarships are available for a certification offered in collaboration with Anafarmex, and the event will cover topics such as adjacent consultation to pharmacies.
