MEXICO—Due to the increased popularity of fast-food restaurants and soft drinks, Mexico has now become the world’s second fattest nation.If this trend continues it could overtake the U.S. as the most obese nation within 10 years, said the Mexican health officials.

Recent surveys indicate that more than 66 % of Mexican men 71 %of Mexican women are obese.Diabetes being the leading cause of death in Mexico,leaders and social workers are renovating efforts to discourage the citizens on having fast food,soft drinks and other fatty-food consumption and persuade them to exercise more.

Before 1990, less than 10 percent of Mexicans were obese.“None has neither suffered from obesity nor talked about it”, said Barry Popkin,a professor who studies global weight gain.“Mexico has witnessed a rapid increase of obesity in the last 15 years,”he added.

“We have to find a solution for this obesity problem,” says Jose Cordova, the Mexican Health Secretary.

Just like the U.S citizens, Mexicans are living more inactive lives. Researches indicate that majority of the Mexicans are consuming more fatty and processed foods, and fewer vegetables and whole grains. All kinds of foods which were previously unavailable can be now purchased at new modern superstores. In Mexico, it’s much easier to get a soft drink rather than a glass of pure drinking water.

“There is no proper drinking water facility in the public places of Mexico City, especially in the schools, said Popkin”.A study conducted nation wide found that nearly one fourth of Mexican children who are in the age group of 5 to 11 are too obese, an increase of 40 percent since 2000.

The soft drink consumption has increased 60 percent in Mexico over the last 14 years, says the government’s National Institute of Public Health.

Officials have decided to put warning labels on junk food and to levy tax on whole milk in order to encourage the consumption of skim milk. However the food giants will make a tough battle to surpass the efforts of the lawmakers.

Over 70,000 Mexicans die every year due to diabetes-related conditions, said Cordova. He added that the problem of diabetes has become a major issue for Mexico’s already strained health services and if this trend continues, the country’s health-care system would become inefficient within a decade.

Obesity results in high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Approximately 6.5 million to 10 million Mexicans have diabetes, says the Mexican Diabetes Federation.”If we don’t put an end to this, we’ll be running out of money to treat the ill,” said Cordova.

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