The Mexican Congress has approved a tax reform bill imposing new levies on junk food and soft drinks.
President Enrique Pena Nieto's project also aims to boost government revenue by increasing top earners' income tax.
The government says the extra cash will go on infrastructure and social security, but critics say it will hurt Mexico's sluggish growth.
Mexico recently surpassed the United States as the country with one of the highest obesity rates in the world.
A recent report by the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says that 32.8% of adult Mexicans are obese, compared to 31.8% of Americans.
The country's health authorities say there are more than five million obese children in the country and a 9.2% incidence of diabetes among children.
"Obesity and diabetes are affecting school and work performances, and with it, the country's economic competitiveness," Mexico's Health Minister, Mercedes Juan, told reporters on Thursday, at the launch of a country strategy to tackle the problem.
More on this story here.
2 comments:
Once again we read of incidence amongst those who really are too young to be diagnosed with diabetes.
What legacy are we leaving?
Kay
"What legacy are we leaving?"
I think children deserve far better than how some of them are living, both here in the UK and further afield. Life for some has always been more dis-advantaged.
Most of us, of course, do our best for our own families. We also donate to good causes, charities etc. But always more could be done. We can not wave a magic wand. Perhaps all we can do is what we are trying to do and keep highlighting the problems. Doing the best we can in our our small ways to make our communities a better place to live.
As always there are some who do not want to hear, and whose eyes do not want to see the problems, but that is no excuse to give up.
Those who are willing, and can make a difference should at least keep trying. Just my views I wonder what you think?
All the best Jan
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