Americas

Mexico tries to sweat out obesity epidemic

Dietary changes are blamed for two-thirds of adult population being considered overweight or obese.
Last Modified: 12 Feb 2013 05:01

Three decades ago, Mexico had practically no problem with obesity. Now, two-thirds of its adult population is overweight or obese. One of the factors in this alarming rise is the change in eating habits.

As a result, diabetes is now the number-one killer in the country. 

Nor is the problem unique to Mexico: more than 1.4 billion adults around the world were overweight or obese in 2008, and obesity has doubled worldwide since 1980. Click here to read a fact sheet on obesity and overweight by the World Health Organisation.

Al Jazeera's Rachel Levin reports from Mexico City.


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