There are complicated moments due to the current Covid-19 pandemic although that does not mean that it is the only health challenge. In fact, for countries like Mexico there are others that are quite serious and have been present long before. One of the clearest cases is obesity, which represents a severe challenge due to its impact on other areas and the decrease in quality of life that it causes. It is even thought that in the medium term it could become a problem of even greater dimensions.
In this sense, it should be remembered that in 2016 the Ministry of Health (SSa) issued an epidemiological emergency declaration for the entire national territory given the magnitude and significance of the cases of Mellitus diabetes. Despite the above, no major changes have been observed and the situation has even worsened. While in 2019 there were 104 thousand 354 deaths for the following year they increased to 152 thousand 467. In large part the cases tend to have an association with overweight and obesity.
What is a pandemic?
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines as “pandemic” those diseases of global spread. In the case of obesity, it is non-infectious, that is, it is not contagious. Currently, around the world the excess weight that affects health has tripled, especially in urban environments. Each year 2.8 million people die from diseases related to obesity and overweight.
In Mexico, 35 percent of men and 46 percent of women in adulthood have obesity, that is, one in three men and just under half of the women. While factors such as a change in diet, the limitations of areas for exercise and a sedentary lifestyle resulting from confinement have exacerbated these health problems. In this sense, diseases related to being overweight will reduce life expectancy in Mexico by more than four years during the next 30 years. This is the largest reduction projected among the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
How much does obesity cost Mexico?
High levels of overweight and obesity also affect Mexico’s economic performance because overweight and related diseases will reduce the workforce by the equivalent of 2.4 million full-time workers per year. This is because people who are overweight and related illnesses are less likely to be employed and, if they are, tend to be less productive.
Likewise, they will account for about 8.9 percent of health spending per year during the period 2020 to 2050. It will also subtract 5.3 percentage points from the Mexican GDP, a percentage much higher than the OECD average of 3.3 percent, a figure that is already by itself it is too high. In fact, Mexico is the country of the Organization where overweight, obesity and their derived diseases will have the greatest impact on GDP between 2020 and 2050.
On the other hand, it has been observed that as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, this problem has only worsened. According to data from the National Chamber of the Food Canning Industry (Canainca) and Grupo Kantar, the purchase of prepared flours, frozen meals, soft drinks and dressings increased by up to 20 percent, data that reflect dietary changes that the population acquired during quarantine.
Poor diet and sedentary lifestyle are determining factors to trigger these diseases that could cost Mexicans 10 years of life expectancy. In this way, it is necessary to reinforce information and raise awareness in the population about the serious risks of this pandemic that could wreak more havoc than Covid-19.