The state of Veracruz retains its fourth-place ranking nationwide for obesity cases in 2025, having recorded 5,335 new diagnoses—a figure surpassing the cases tallied during the previous year—according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
Nutrition specialists have warned that the problem continues to grow due to multiple factors, such as poor dietary habits, excessive consumption of ultra-processed products, a sedentary lifestyle, and a lack of nutritional education starting from an early age.
Carolina Palmeros Exsome, Director of the Faculty of Nutrition at the Veracruz University (Universidad Veracruzana), noted that although regulatory measures have been promoted in Mexico to reduce the consumption of harmful foods, significant challenges remain in achieving genuine change within the population.
“We could perhaps implement slightly more aggressive strategies to raise public awareness regarding the importance of watching one’s diet and preventing diseases related to overweight and obesity. It is not merely a matter of establishing guidelines or labeling requirements; it is also necessary to analyze the actual impact these measures have had and how we can reinforce them through education and prevention.”
The academic emphasized the need to bolster awareness campaigns and nutritional education—particularly among children, adolescents, and young adults—sectors where the prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to rise at a concerning rate. She explained that simply placing warning labels on packaging is not sufficient; rather, it is essential to implement permanent programs focused on dietary guidance, physical activity, and access to healthy food options.
Obesity Must Be Addressed Across Multiple Health and Education Sectors
The specialist warned that overweight and obesity should not be viewed solely as issues related to diet, but rather as multifactorial conditions requiring comprehensive attention across various sectors, including public health, education, and social policy.
The Director of the Faculty of Nutrition stated that it is urgent to strengthen preventive programs and evaluate the actual impact of the measures implemented to date, with the ultimate goal of reducing obesity rates and preventing associated diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. We really need to examine the actual impact these guidelines have had on the population, as we continue to observe high rates of obesity. This problem requires comprehensive attention, multidisciplinary collaboration, and greater engagement from both institutions and families to foster healthy habits from an early age.
Source: meganoticias
