• May 8, 2024

The obesity and the overweight Currently, they are the main cause associated with public health problems in Mexico. The country occupies the first place of children with obesity Y overweight , and the second of adults worldwide.

According to the Ministry of Health of the Federal District , Mexico spends 7% of the budget allocated to health to address the problems related to the obesity and the overweight , only below the United States that invests 9%.

In this regard, the Mexican government made the proposal to include the Tax to Added Value (VAT) to soft drinks , with the intention of reversing the levels of overweight Y obesity .

However, the medical Ruth Pedroza Islands , specialist in Food Engineering of the Ibeoamerican University , points out that VAT on soft drinks does not reduce obesity.

The academic, ensures that the intake of sugars it does not represent more than 25%, reason why it considers that the best alternative to face the overweight and obesity as a social problem, is to invest in nutrition education, to emphasize the reduction of caloric intake and the increase in physical activity .

In Mexico, the average consumption of soft drinks is almost 163 thousand liters per year per person according to the National Household Income and Expenditure Survey of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) , "Does not exceed 5.5% of the daily intake energy , data obtained in the United States, whose consumption of these beverages is very similar to that of our country ".

Consequences of overweight

The poor diet based on junk foods and sedentary lifestyle , are the main factors associated with overweight and obesity, diseases that represent a social problem in Mexico, since they can trigger other ailments such as diabetes , hypertension , among other.

1. Mortality: Mortality is 12 times higher in young people between 25 and 35 years old.
2. Disabilities: 25% of disabilities labor are for conditions related to obesity.
3. Expenses between 22% and 34% higher in family income.
4. Three out of four hospital beds are occupied by patients with diseases related to obesity.

In this sense, the expert points out that adding VAT to the soft drink does not reduce the obesity , neither overweight that reigns in Mexico. What do you think?