When I think of children in developing countries, I envision poor nutrition as a pervasive problem in public health and general welfare. Upon searching for information about children in Mexico, the country of origin of some extended family, I am surprised, and not-so-surprised, to learn that Mexico is struggling with simultaneous under-nutrition and obesity, and that the International Development and Research Center (IDRC) has begun research into the double burden of under and over nutrition in Mexico. Obesity affects the public welfare with rising incidence of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. Mexico's economic gains are resulting in the availability and affordability of food high in sugars, refined flour, and processed convenience foods. (Janssen, Taylor) One result of the rise of the middle class has been the rise in childhood obesity. Other social trends that are contributing to childhood obesity are the increase of motor transport and the resulting hazards for walkers or cyclists among the traffic, increased use of television and video entertainment, the increase of availability of food, portion size, and fast food stores, and the rise in consumption of soft drinks replacing water (WHO, 2010). One may think that childhood obesity is a problem only in the United States, but apparently it is a side-effect of poor nutrition education in a place of rising wealth and choices. That this condition is growing worldwide is a sure call for educators and all public servants to collaborate with families when caring for a child, offering education, including health education, that will impact the development of the child through a lifetime.
Resources:
World Health Organization, GHH Seminars. (17 November, 2010). Retrieved from http://www.who.org/
Janssen, P. Ian M., Lopez Y Taylor, Juan Ricardo. Unraveling the Emerging Childhood Obesity Epidemic in Mexico: The Nutrition Transition and the Double-Edged Sword. Retrieved from http://www,idrc.ca/en/ev-_134240-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
1 comment:
I am a little surprise to read that obesity exist in Mexico. I would imagine that the main means of transportation was to walk mostly, wrong perception I know now. The use of video games is also a problem for most teenagers’ lack of physical activity.
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