We already knew that Yucatán was the most obese state in the nation. And we drink the most Coke of any region in the world. Now we have learned the financial price of this indulgence.
Mexico is headed for one of the biggest health problems in recent years: An estimated 70 percent of the population is overweight; 30 percent of the population qualifies as obese.
Now, the financial side aspect of this problem has been calculated. According to the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness, this situation has social costs by more than 85 billion pesos a year.
For medical treatment alone, costs are estimated to exceed 62 billion pesos a year as doctors are confronted by increasing cases of diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, and bone and muscle disorders and some types cancer.
While part of the Mexican diet includes tacos, tostadas, tortas and tamales, the traditional Yucatecan diet also contains cochinita, kibis, salbutes and panuchos. And it’s being washed down by sugary drinks.
In Yucatan, soft drink consumption is 15 percent higher than the rest of the country, which, in turn, is the largest consumer in the world.
Source: Diario de Yucatán
