A Mexican soda company is fighting back against reports that blame carbonated drinks for the country's rising obesity rate, now higher than in the United States, according to Reuters.
A United Nations report released last month put Mexico's obesity rate at 32.8 percent of adults, which is just above the United State's 31.8 percent. The obesity rate makes Mexico the fattest country in the Western Hemisphere, excluding Belize and some small Caribbean Islands.
According to Reuters, Mexican per capita carbonated drinks consumption rate are among the world's highest, at more than 12 ounces per day.
The country's advocacy groups have seized on the statistic. They've launched an anti-soda ad campaign in Mexico's subways. The ads began airing on Tuesday, encouraging healthier lifestyle with images of people jogging and eating health.
"We have a responsibility to motive people to change their behavior towards healthier lifestyle," said Emilio Herrera, the group's director, according to Reuters. "That's what's going to help us to confront this public health problem."
The groups said they recognize the threat of obesity and blame it on the lack of exercise and love of fried food in Latin America. The group promised to help fight the war against the rising numbers of obesity in adults and children.
Mexico's association of soft drink producers, ANPRAC, said on Wednesday that they refuse to accept the number ratings, calling the ad campaign "misinformation." On the company's website, the producers claim that soft drinks "form part of the Mexican diet."
According to Reuters, the international health experts are skeptical about ANPRA's arguments.
"The strongest scientific link between any category of food and obesity is with sugared beverages," said Kelly Brownell, dean of Duke University's public policy school and an obesity specialist. "If you're going to address obesity, you need to begin somewhere, and why not begin where the science is strongest?"
According to Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, a leading supplier of insulin to Mexico, obesity puts people at greater risk of developing diabetes, which afflicts 10.6 million Mexicans.
According to Reuters, World Health Organization director, Margaret Chan criticized efforts by "Big Soda" to fight impending regulations by blaming obesity on poor individual decision-making.
Mexico is not the only country blaming obesity on soft drinks. In New York City, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg appeal for stop to selling of sugary drinks over 16 ounces, was denied a second time. Bloomberg claimed the appeal was an effort to counter obesity in the nation's largest city.
Mexico's soft drink lobby includes the local bottlers of both the Coca Cola Co and PepsiCo Inc.
