Obesity in Mexico

Obesity in Mexico

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I was reading one of the news articles from Mexconnect in the LA Times today regarding obesity rates in Mexico. Mexico is now second after the US in cases of overweight and obesity. (24% are obese and 62% are overweight)

Many of the causes are the same as the US, i.e. inactivity, and wide availability of junk food. I'm curious to find out if anyone sees any sort of public health campaigns in their communities to combat this crisis? Do you hear your Mexican doctors talking about the issue?

From my personal experience, the Mexican health care system doesn't have the resources to deal with the upcoming diabetes and heart cases on the horizon. The US is just starting to wake up to this threat.

Love to hear everyone's thoughts

Caarina

May 20, 2004, 1:04 PM

Post #2 of 19 (874 views)

Re: [Caarina12] Obesity in Mexico

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People in the U.S. and Mexico are real tubos. Even in my wife's native France, long noted for slim people, folks are porking up.

Diabetes and other obesity related illnesses are on the rise in the U.S. and Mexico. The difference is that, in Mexico, people mind their own business. If you want to get fat and kill yourself, have at it. Most of these obesity related deaths won't effect the public health system because most of those suffering will never call upon the system anyway. God help us if the Mexican government discovers a new reason to set up a bureacracy to overcome obesity. We can then look for the creation of another bureaucratic agency manned (and womaned) by friends and associates of high government officials upon whom lengthy and obscure titles will be bestowed so they can apply for a piece of the Federal budget pie, award themselves exhorbitant compensation and proceed to have endless meetings to plan other endless meetings to plan issuance of pompous press releases touting their attention to the problem and their intention to have another meeting on the problem which will end obesity once and for all.

U.S. society is suffocating in its own angst. Please don't wish that upon those of us who left the U.S., among other reasons, in order to get away from that puritanical society.

Adrian

May 20, 2004, 4:52 PM

Post #3 of 19 (838 views)

Re: [Bubba] Obesity in Mexico

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Quote
"Diabetes and other obesity related illnesses are on the rise in the U.S. and Mexico. The difference is that, in Mexico, people mind their own business. If you want to get fat and kill yourself, have at it.
<snip>
U.S. society is suffocating in its own angst. Please don't wish that upon those of us who left the U.S., among other reasons, in order to get away from that puritanical society."

HEAR HEAR!
Well said, Bubba! Honest and to the point - as one who came from a bastion of Socialism (England) where they were busy taking my money to 'educate' people about smoking, overeating, lack of exercise etc (all lifestyle choices) and then picking up the pieces when, predictably, the education was ignored.

As long as ISSSTE doesn't extend any further, IMSS covers only those working and the Cruz Roja de Mexico picks up the rest and takes them to the nearest Hospital Militar I say 'leave us all the hell alone!'.

This is one of my pet peeves, that the developed world wishes to impose its standards on Mexico without regard to the cost or its people's position on such things.

Adrian

Marlene

May 20, 2004, 6:25 PM

Post #4 of 19 (821 views)

Re: [Caarina12] Obesity in Mexico - Its da vitaminas!

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Here's the easy answer. It's the Vitimina T! Tacos, Tomales, Tortillas, Tortas, Tostadas etc! Can anyone provide a T-free diet?

May 21, 2004, 12:49 PM

Post #5 of 19 (752 views)

Re: [Marlene] Obesity in Mexico - Its da vitaminas!

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Marlene:

While the Vitamin T diet certainly helps to understand the obesity epidemic in Mexico, you left off one of the most important nutrients needed in order to achieve true corpulence.

Vitamin C.

Coca Cola.

Many middle class and well educated Mexicans lay the blame for obesity among their countrymen on this sugary, high calorie concoction consumed in copious amounts by Mexicans in all classes. Mexicans apparently drink more sugar laden soda pop per capita than any other nationality on the planet and Coca Cola is ubiquitous in all parts of the country. Coca Cola and other soft drinks add fuel to the flame produced by the Vitamin T diet which, while starchy, never utilized that much pure sugar.

Ii may be an urban legend, but I have heard that Coke has agreed to use Mexican cane sugar in its drinks down here as opposed to beet ot other sugars Coke uses elsewhere.This, in turn, faciltates and protects its national franchise with the Mexican government. That would make sense since the cane sugar industry in Mexico is in such dire straits. Whether true or not, it is a widely accepted notion among educated Mexicans.

What appears to be is.

May 22, 2004, 11:20 AM

Post #6 of 19 (696 views)

Re: [Bubba] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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Hi Bubba;

Nice job of doing the heavy lifting on this topic.

Let me add:
Genetically, (this ought to draw fire) Mexicans, especially the more indigenous, are more prone to diabetes from this type of diet. Reports of diabetes and nutrition since the 1930's in indigenous tribes in Arizona supports this.

However…..our neighbor lady in Oaxaca with both legs cut off at the hip, who spends her days playing solitaire plunked on top of her bed, might second-think if she had any idea of the relationships. Overall, this is a weakness of letting life flow like a river. The ability to readily perceive and draw relationships between seeming distant and obscure things is a product of Western liberal arts educational goals; a foundation stone supporting the concept of progress, which, in turn, supports of our economic system - IMHO.

As the Englishman says you can learn to live free. But, I think you really ought to bring your money with you before you start. Then one can enjoy a life with the ability to connect the dots surrounded by people who can’t connect the dots. The dumb ones loose: but someone has to loose. It’s like natural selection in Minnesota: each year the dumb ones go out ice fishing too early in November and fall through – this keeps the gene pool improved (as evidenced by the higher school testing scores typically achieved by Minnesotans).

Carol Schmidt

May 23, 2004, 8:44 AM

Post #7 of 19 (659 views)

Re: [TomG] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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It is true that a specific tribe in Arizona has far higher rates of diabetes than the general populaton--when I lived in Phoenix there were frequent news stories on the problems funding the dialysis clinics which were required for those who went on to develop kidney problems.

And there is a huge surge in the U.S. on the type of diabetes which is called adult-onset Type II diabetes--but it is now occurring in overweight young children.

I'm not sure that you can say all indigenous people are more genetically susceptible to diabetes--other Indian tribes did not show such a disproportion of diabetes cases.

Historically obesity is highly correlated to poverty--less education, less food choices, less peer pressure and job pressure to be thin, less medical care, and don't forget higher targeting by the processed food corporations which push higher calorie food choices.

Nobody advertises raw cauliflower. No profit in it.

Carol Schmidt

May 23, 2004, 10:19 AM

Post #8 of 19 (639 views)

Re: [Carol Schmidt] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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As you probably know, the dry climate Arizona indigenous tribes were cut in on a federal food program during the depression in the 1930's. It resulted in a distribution of 3 staples: white flour, sugar, and lard. Taking these 3 ingredients some developed a locally famous dish - navajo fry-bread. The centuries old diet of dry climate indigenous was notably lacking in fast sugars and fats. When they were suddenly inundated with it their bodies just were not accustomed. Who knows how long Germans, for example took to accustom themselves to their diet preferences. Alcoholism is also rampant with the same Arizona indigenous - they seem to have less resistance than, say Germans. Speculation is that the Irish are similarly disposed (inability to handle it), and thus merit their reputation for the drink. I'm Irish by blood and tread with caution around "the drink."

If I could do anything to cause my son-in-law to live to 100 without being overbearing, I would keep him away from much meats, fats and fast sugars. He is the kind of person who, if he lived to 100, would spread his kind nature further, causing even more people to say, "Boy, I like that L."

True, there is the surge in obesity and health problems in US Anglos which includes Type II diabetes. I would say that contemporary refined food diets are bad for everybody, but worse for people of certain racial types with less history of fast sugar/fat consumption. And third world inhabitants are always at higher risk, without as much economic cushion and support to soften the results of their actions.

"Historically obesity is highly correlated to poverty"... (relative poverty in rich countries). Poverty poverty doesn't produce much fat. Sometimes skinny kids cross the border and get a job and get fat in a few years. Try shopping with Guatemalan immigrants in a Wal-Mart....meat, pop, pasta, and sweet rolls. I think if you put a little bit of money in the hands of the real poor and turn them loose in a high choice modern food cornucopia that will most often happen.

Education in moderate doses doesn't seem to help - USA college kids are no smarter than immigrants with poor performance secondary educations. You almost have to have an advanced degree and be over 30 to be qualified to step through the minefield of a supermarket. Now why an ISSSTE super in Mexico is equally charged up is a mystery only leadership could answer.

But when you think about what can effectively be done about public obesity and it ripple effects given contemporary conditions: save yourself....and hope for the best. Cause and effect are too far separated for democratic leaders to perceive. Although gripping and complaining in everyday life is remarkably effective in causing consciousness to spread like and infection. I don't know why people get so down on gripping and complaining.

May 23, 2004, 12:53 PM

Post #9 of 19 (619 views)

Re: [TomG] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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Good points, TomG. I especially liked your comments about the Navajo Fried Bread which makes sense to me.

If I read your comments correctly, you contend that some griping and complaining can have a salutary effect on peoples' behavior. My earlier post on this thread was intended to make fun of the overbearing puritanican streak in the American psyche but also the often dysfunctional nature of the Mexican bureaucracy when organized to try to modify human behavior as in striving to eliminate or minimize obesity related diabetes.

There is, no doubt, value in official nagging by governmental agencies to try to change constituents' habits that are harmful to society in general. There is a huge social cost to rampant obesity without a doubt. Incessant harping on the subject certainly sinks in among some of us and that is good. Governmental efforts to educate the populace on socially correct behavior may have a positive effect over time if the behavior sought is eventually construed by the people to be beneficial.

In the 1950s, the U.S. had a litter problem that was very much like that being experienced in Mexico today. Mexican highways are incredibly filthy and covered with litter. The north shore of Lake Chapala, where I live, is an absolute disgrace. When I observe this, I remember the beach at Dauphin Island, Alabama in the 1970s when we lived there which, in remote parts, was covered with an appalling amount of litter at every low tide. Today, that beach is relatively pristine. Since it is at the point where the estuarine waters of Mobile Bay dump the detritus of the Coastal Basin into the Gulf of Mexico, it can never be totally clean there, but the incremental litter brought to the beach by the weekend revelers is no longer as severe a problem as it was 30 years ago. This change is a result of social pressures partly brought about by governmental nagging but the real change had to come from the hearts of the people.

Governmental entities can provide the catalyst for positive changes in unhealthy eating habits or other socially undesirable behavior through propaganda but it still gets on my nerves. Plus, I like my tequila straight up with a Cheese Whopper with extra mayo and onions washed down with a big Coke and Dunkin' Donut with raspberry jelly filling. Leave me alone.

May 23, 2004, 3:17 PM

Post #10 of 19 (601 views)

Re: [Bubba] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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In Reply To

I like my tequila straight up with a Cheese Whopper with extra mayo and onions washed down with a big Coke and Dunkin' Donut with raspberry jelly filling.

Ah! Bubba, me boy! If you even know where such things exist, you are living in the wrong part of Mexico. Work your way outward and downward until you are able to encounter only the onions and Big Coke….that is as far away as you are probably able to get. Then substitute pulque for the tequila and Big Coke. Now just add the onions to some frijoles negros, and make some homemade tortillas from blue corn. You will be healthy as an ox.

While I concur that nagging is a fit and proper function of modern democratic government, and thank you for pointing that out; I was actually thinking differently. Gripping and complaining belongs more properly to the foot soldiers. It is from their mouths that gripping and complaining has historic directional forming capabilities. Like drops of rain they plop and peck at mountains and wash them to the sea. Responsible people should grip and complain as much as they are able, spreading discontent with as many social shortcomings as they can point out. Shared discontent corrodes at power. Discontent should not be selfishly horded; not only is it bad for one’s health, it also denies history its potential to evolve toward perfection. Intelligent people should not let their fellows down by shutting up, nor by being overly saccharine in their comments. Think of gripping and complaining as the fodder that feeds leadership - where else are they going to get decent unbiased input? This is exactly where Mexican society frequently comes up short, if I may.

So while you may have slightly misread me, your expanding of the conversation to include top-down nagging has rounded out a discussion of social organization to completion. I think jointly we have formed a cohesive theory of social improvement that interpreted and applied correctly would do more for society than a whole state full of Texas cheerleaders. I really mean that.

(This post was edited by TomG on May 23, 2004, 5:49 PM)

May 23, 2004, 5:45 PM

Post #11 of 19 (583 views)

Re: [TomG] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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TomG:

Diversity is the key to happiness. I not only know the location of every Burger King in Guadalajara but where to get the best mescal in several varieties in Teotitlan, the best pulque in Jalisco, the best Raicilla in Yelapa, and the best Tequila in Tequila. My research is ongoing but I can assure you that my own weight problem is not a result of any love affair with Mexican food, or cheeseburgers, for that matter. I didn't retire in Mexico for the food. Had I retired for food, I would have moved to India, Iran, France, Turkey, Lebanon, Thailand, Vietnam Ethiopia or Greece before Mexico but there were some problems associated with each place.

Uncle Jack

May 23, 2004, 6:01 PM

Post #12 of 19 (579 views)

Re: [Bubba] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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"Had I retired for food, I would have moved to India, Iran, France, Turkey, Lebanon, Thailand, Vietnam Ethiopia or Greece before Mexico but there were some problems associated with each place."

Iran? Ethiopia? Boo Boo, we really need to talk!

uj

May 23, 2004, 8:45 PM

Post #13 of 19 (550 views)

Re: [Uncle Jack] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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UJ:

Ethiopian food, especially the signal dish injera and wat enjoyed accompanied by Ethiopian beer or their local wine,Tej, in an Addis Ababa restaurant, puts the touted mole of Mexico to shame.

As for Iran. Persian cooking is an ancient cuisine consisting of some of the most exquisite food on the planet.

I left out Tunisia, Morocco and Afganistan. Outstanding food in all three countries. There are, however, some political issues with retiring in Afganistan at the present time.

For now, I must settle for an abundance of Vitamin T.

Georgia

May 24, 2004, 4:44 AM

Post #14 of 19 (533 views)

Re: [Bubba] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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Bubba, I'm shocked:you left out Italy.

May 25, 2004, 9:00 AM

Post #15 of 19 (440 views)

Re: [Bubba] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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In Reply To

I left out Tunisia, Morocco and Afganistan.

Gosh, Bubba, you can buy goat in Mexico.

tomg

May 25, 2004, 12:13 PM

Post #16 of 19 (419 views)

Re: [TomG] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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Georgia:

Forgive me for leaving out Italy but my wife is French and, as anyone knows, the French took Italian food and vastly improved it. Whether I am right or wrong about that, I will maintain that stance because I do not have an Italian cook at home.

TomG. I know one can find goat in Mexico. As you probably know, it is not what you cook but how you cook it. A Mexican chef can make a goat whimper, a Morrocan or Afgan chef can make a goat sing.

As for goat cheese, some of the finest on the planet, compare the products made in France and Mexico respectively and weep that you live here. The weather is nicer here, however.

Uncle Jack

May 25, 2004, 12:32 PM

Post #17 of 19 (418 views)

Re: [Bubba] Obesity in Mexico - genetic interpretation

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Ahh, mon ami......I can smell them now.....sauteed medallions of Singing Goat along with curdled yak blood on a stick and washed down with rancid buttermilk. The memory brings tears to my eyes.

As I remember, they used to make some pretty decent fresh goat cheese in Marin County.

uj

(This post was edited by Uncle Jack on May 25, 2004, 12:36 PM)

jennifer rose

May 25, 2004, 12:43 PM

Post #18 of 19 (414 views)

Boys!

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Please take the discussion of Singing Goat Cheese on a Stick, Ethiopian food and French-cut green beans over to the Kitchen Forum, because you're getting too far afield over here in this forum. Let's keep this thread on track with obesity in Mexico.

May 25, 2004, 12:50 PM

Post #19 of 19 (411 views)