Tackling obesity and NCD in Mexico

21 November 2023.

Tackling obesity and NCD in Mexico: a policy approach by IFPRI

The 33rd Annual Martin J. Forman Memorial Lecture feature Dr. Simón Barquera, the Director of Nutrition and Health Research Center at the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico (INSP) who addressed the growing obesity epidemic and alarming rate of diet-related noncommunicable diseases in Mexico. 

Outlining the INSP’s initiatives and policy recommendations, Dr. Barquera spoke about the Mexican government’s efforts to improve food environments in Mexico, as well as the response of the food industry to these efforts. 

While focused on Mexico, the lecture provided recommendations for other countries struggling with rising obesity and non-communicable diseases.

• 
  Johan Swinnen, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, CGIAR and Director General, IFPRI
• Kenan Forman, Son of Martin J. Forman
• Kellie Stewart, Chief, Nutrition and Environmental Health Division, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Dr. Simón Barquera, Director, Center for Research in Nutrition and Health, National Institute of Public Health, México. President Elect, World Obesity Federation
• Moderator: Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy, CGIAR and IFPRI

Related: 

11/02/2017. The New York Times Spyware’s Odd Targets: Backers of Mexico’s Soda Tax

All were vocal proponents of Mexico’s 2014 soda tax, the first national soda tax of its kind. It is aimed at reducing consumption of sugary drinks in Mexico, where weight-related diseases kill more people every year than violent crime.

The links sent to the men were laced with an invasive form of spyware developed by NSO Group, an Israeli cyberarms dealer that sells its digital spy tools exclusively to governments and that has contracts with multiple agencies inside Mexico, according to company emails leaked to The New York Times last year.