November 14, 2023

Global Guide to Obesity

Obesity rates are rising across the world. This guide explores country-specific challenges as well as ways global employers can support their workforce.

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Obesity is a major public health concern in Mexico and its prevalence has been increasing over the past several decades.¹ Between 2000 and 2018, obesity in adults increased 42.2%,^1,2 and obesity in children doubled between 1996 and 2016 (Figure 4.1).³ Most recent national survey data revealed that over one-third of adults were living with obesity and only 23.5% of the population were at a healthy weight.^1,2 The main causes of mortality in the country are now linked to obesity, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, malignant tumors and liver diseases.¹ In fact, in 2021, approximately 14 million adults in Mexico were living with type 2 diabetes, and almost half were undiagnosed. Undiagnosed diabetes puts people at serious risk for health complications like heart attack, stroke, blindness and amputation of lower limbs. Perhaps relatedly, Mexico is also in the top 10 countries for health expenditures related to diabetes.⁴

 

Figure 4.1. Projected Trends in the Prevalence of Obesity

Source: World Obesity Federation: World Obesity Atlas 2023.

In recent years, the Mexican diet has evolved from mostly fresh and unprocessed foods to processed foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat.¹ Approximately 23% of the Mexican population’s intake comes from these highly processed foods.^1,5 Research has shown that sugar-sweetened beverages make up a significant portion of adult and children’s diets,^1,6 although a tax on these drinks led to reduced consumption in the years after it was implemented.⁷ In October 2019, the Mexican parliament also approved a law that requires front of package labeling indicating whether the product is high in sugars, sodium, saturated fats, trans fats, and/or calories, among other information.⁸

The Cost and Impact of Overweight

The costs of being overweight are high, both to society and to employers. In Mexico, those with a BMI ≥ 25, have a life expectancy of 4.2 fewer years than those with a BMI in a healthy range.²¹ Overweight accounts for 8.9% of health expenditure [and] lowers labor market outputs by the equivalent of 2.4 million full-time workers per year.¹⁰

Table 4.1: Impact of Overweight

Source: World Obesity Federation: World Obesity Atlas 2023.

Altogether, overweight decreases Mexico’s GDP by 5.3%, more than any other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) country.¹⁰ Furthermore, results from a 2018 study showed that respondents with obesity were more likely to report greater levels of presenteeism, work impairment, and health care visits than respondents with a normal weight.¹¹ The projected economic impact of overweight, including productivity loss at work, from 2020 to 2035 is shown in Figure 4.2.

 

Figure 4.2: Projected Economic Impact of Overweight

Source: World Obesity Federation: World Obesity Atlas 2023.

The Cost and Impact of Obesity

The national health budget makes up about 2% of the total federal health budget in Mexico. Funding for prevention and control of obesity and non-communicable diseases is less than 1% of that.^1,12 Primary health care in the country has historically been weak and physicians are rarely trained in obesity management or nutrition.¹ Treatment for obesity generally involves infrequent appointments with traditional recommendations related to diet and exercise.^13,14 Research has shown that these types of interventions are unsuccessful, leading to weight loss of less than 1 kg/year.¹³

BMI screening, obesity treatment and diagnosis are not common in the primary care setting,¹² and most Mexican adults with obesity are undiagnosed.^13,15 A 2006 nationally representative survey revealed that only 20% of adults with obesity had been diagnosed (and only 8% had received treatment), and 47% of 2000 individuals surveyed in 2018 had a diagnosis.^13,15

Employers are aware of the challenges and needs related to quality services. When asked in a 2023 survey how they think employees would describe the quality of services to help manage their weight in Mexico, a third of employers responded good or very good. The most common employer offerings include stress management initiatives, digital weight management programs, healthy nutrition promotion and fitness incentives (via on-site facilities or gym membership subsidies).¹⁸

Obesity Stigma and Mental Health Concerns

Stigma related to obesity in the country is significant: Business Group on Health’s Global Weight Management Survey found that 43% of employers view weight stigma as either extremely or very severe; however, only 7% have a strategy in place to address weight stigma (n=20).¹⁸

Also, research has shown that there may be a link between obesity and mental health conditions like depression, and a recent study shows this may be true in Mexico as well.¹⁹ A systematic review of 16 studies looking at the association between obesity and anxiety or depression on Mexican children and adolescents showed that those with higher BMIs were more likely to present with depression or depressive symptoms than those at a normal weight. This was more likely in females than in males.²⁰

Obesity and Overweight in Mexico

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