Recently, Mexico City is experiencing an obesity crisis. A study was conducted to determine the causes of obesity in the country and it showed that lack of physical activity or any form of exercise is the major reason. This predicament is not only happening in Mexico City, but also in other parts of the world.
Mexico faced the city's problem by putting taxes on food and drinks with high sugar content. It was initiated in 2013. Although the action implemented helped boost the government's finances, the effects on the citizens' health are still not yet medically proven.
The implementation of the "Sugar Tax", as what the government calls it, started because of what health reports said. According to 2012 National Survey of Health and Nutrition, almost seven million people were overweight and five million people were obese. The city's human population is roughly twenty-one million; making it the most overweight state in the country.
News reported by The Guardian said that obesity crisis is due to dietary problems and lack of physical activities or any form of exercise. Mexico City is also known worldwide of its cuisine. Food is sold everywhere, even on the streets. There was in increased in food consumption of low nutritional value. However, this factor is vague.
The apparent factor is the lack of physical activities. Mexico City is considered the most inactive state in the whole country. Reports showed in 2012 that only 33% of children were into physical activities, like sports or dancing, while 74% of children preferred looking at screens for more than three hours a day during the week. This is also a fact for the adults. 29% of employed adults were working an inactive job. Most of the time, they only sit in an office or somewhere looking at screens.
Inability to perform physical activities may be because of the following factors: time, traffic condition, natural spots for physical activity, and fear.
Mexico City should promote healthier lifestyles for the citizens. It plays a big and vital part of the country's economic growth. The crisis should be put to stop.
