HOW CAN BUSINESSES PROMOTE ACTIVE LIVING IN MEXICO?

Urbanisation and economic development have changed lifestyles in Mexico - but not always for the better. As a result of evolving food habits and more sedentary lifestyles, Mexicans have become increasingly overweight - and diabetes, hyper blood pressure and chronic diseases are now some of the country's main worries.

In Mexico, out of a population of 100 million, around 70 million are overweight or obese. Nearly four million children between five and 11 and five million young people are exposed to risk factors associated with being overweight or obese. Diabetes is causing a burden on the entire Mexican economy – costing it $15 billion in 2000, according to the World Health Organisation.

Employers face escalating costs, including abseentism, health insurance costs and significant threats to competitiveness. In particular, food companies face a shifting commercial landscape: high levels of obesity and related diseases are driving governments to act and consumers to change their lifestyle.

IBLF recommends that companies in all sectors can act in three ways:

Workplace: Action through health and wellness programmes - to reinforce personal behaviour change and facilitate parental action to promote healthy life-styles within the family

Marketplace: Action appropriate to each business sector through innovation in products, services, consumer marketing and information - to make healthy choices and behaviour easier

Community: Action through targeted outreach in partnerships with schools, institutions, community groups, sport and leisure facilities - to achieve change to healthy diet and active lifestyles

More on IBLF's health programme

IBLF's role in building a business response

To help businesses work together with other sectors to respond to the crisis of obesity and chronic diseases in the country, last week IBLF brought together over 70 people from different sectors at an event in Mexico City.

Promoting Active Living in Mexico, was the second event that IBLF has held in its health and well-being series in Mexico. The first was dedicated to healthy eating and this second meeting was focused on the role that physical activity can play in the treatment of obesity.

One of the goals of the meeting was to start to build a network of regional contacts, from the public sector, businesses, media, health NGOs and civil society in order to share the latest knowledge about initiatives that will promote healthier lifestyles in Mexico.

“Chronic disease, particularly soaring rates of diabetes, is a huge political, social and business issue in Mexico, and this was reflected in the high level of interest in the event. Creating environments conducive to physical activity is an important way that businesses can play a role in promoting healthier lifestyles, not just for their employees, but for their customers and the wider communities in which they operate.”
Olive Boles, IBLF’s director of global health partnerships.

Read the news story on our website to find out more
Download a report on our event in 2005 (either in English or Spanish)

A little effort, a lot of gain?

According to the World Health Organisation, more people now die from chronic diseases than communicable diseases such as malaria or HIV/AIDS.

However, these diseases are largely preventable, and changes to people's lifestyles and eating habits can bring about huge benefits at little cost.

While individuals and families have key responsibilities, much can be done by responsible businesses, institutions and voluntary organisations, to help find solutions.

By supporting education efforts, encouraging healthy lifestyles among the workforce and raising the profile of nutritional challenges and the importance of being active, it is clear that companies have a vital role to play in this major - but solvable - battle.