Childhood obesity in Mexico: A constant struggle and reflection for its prevention on the influence of family and social habits

Abstract

The rate of childhood obesity is a public health problem and has increased dramatically in recent decades in most Latin American countries, mainly in Mexico. The different causal factors of the disease are an unhealthy diet based on ultra-processed and easily consumed foods, the environment, socioeconomic status, culture, eating patterns, sedentary lifestyles, insufficient sleep, social prejudice, environmental chemical pollutants, reduced physical activity and the media. The latter exert great pressure to consume more and more industrial foods, which is contributing to aggravate the childhood obesity epidemic existing today in our society. This review presents an analysis of the effect of the different factors related to childhood obesity and shows an acceleration in its prevalence, which could reflect the result of the neglect of prevention programs and methodological deficiencies not yet identified by government authorities. This is important from the point of view of the challenges that Mexican health systems will face in the next generations. In conclusion, Mexico presents alarming obesity rates in children.