Causes of obesity in Mexico, the worlds most obese country

Mexico is now the most overweight country in the world. If obesity continues to grow unchecked it could harm not only the public health but also could l impair productivity and economic growth for generations. Yet little is known about the specific causes of Mexican obesity.

This paper presents data on obesity from 1988 to 2012 in Mexico. There was a large growth in obesity in the 1990s so this is a key period for studying obesity in Mexico. We use four nationally-representative nutrition surveys carried out over this period.  We use the household level National Survey of Nutrition (1988 and 1999) and National Survey of Health and Nutrition (2006 and 2012) which include data on height, weight, biomarkers and dietary intake.

We use our empirical analysis and extant literature on obesity and diabetes in the U.S. to gain insight into causes of obesity and diabetes in Mexico. Based on the statistical patterns in Mexico, comparison across the US and Mexico, and factors pertinent to Mexico, we present and empirically examine explanations for Mexico’s recent rapid growth in both obesity and diabetes.

Potential causes that are key for Mexico include: 1) the recent, rapid, but incomplete nutritional transition from malnutrition and stunting to obesity; 2) a tradition of low-nutrient, high fat, readily available, cheap street food; 3) high consumption of sodas starting at very young ages; and 4) the 1994 NAFTA agreement that made processed foods more readily and cheaply available. A secondary set of causes that we examine are: 1) the oligopoly status of soda and food production;  2) Mexico as a sugar producing country which may have resulted in high sugar content in many foods and beverages (20); 3) lower ability to exercise due to security issues and to traffic (kids do not have traffic-free places to play); 4) increasing labor force participation of women;  and 5) long commuting times that leave less time for parents to cook nutritious meals at home.

We develop these hypotheses and empirically test predictions consistent with each hypothesis above. By examining differences in trends and levels in obesity by socioeconomic, demographic and regional variables including age, gender, indigenous status, marital status, and zone of residence including urban versus rural, we provide insight into the causes of obesity, and thus diabetes, in Mexico. Greater understanding of the causes may help to develop solutions to the complex set of problems associated with obesity in Mexico.