Why Mexican children struggle with obesity

Dinner tables across Mexico tell the story of the country’s worsening diabetes problem.

Ana Maria is preparing a meal for her teenage son – Carlos.

He’s 17 years old and weighs 137 kilos, more than twice the recommended weight.

Reuters has agreed not to reveal his identity as a vulnerable minor.

In January he tested positive for COVID-19 and spent a month in hospital, a borrowed oxygen tank now stands in the middle of his living room.

And he has regular appointments with the nutritionist and lung specialist.

(Anna Maria) "It was a big scare. And so it's necessary that we take stock, think about, what are we doing with our children?"

Carlos is one of about 150 girls and boys who have been treated by doctors, nutritionists and psychologists at a children’s hospital in Mexico City over the past 12 years.

In two years diabetes rates jumped a full percentage point to 10.3%, one of the highest rates in the world as more than a decade of poor eating habits took its toll.

High calorie temptation is everywhere - despite efforts to limit sales of junk food to children and to label products clearly with high salt, fat, and sugar content.

More than half of Mexico's adult population works informally.

Parents often earn less than the daily minimum wage of around $7 and commute long hours - leaving them no time, or money, to purchase and prepare nutritious meals.

At another table – Patricia lays out food for her overweight 14 year-old.

"He began to get very sick in his stomach. Like a form of gastroenteritis, vomiting, diarrhea or later, I began seeing him eat in large quantities which is when I began to grow alarmed. I also saw that he was more tired, with more body aches, more aching in his feet. And that it what more than anything grabbed my attention to do something."

During the pandemic, the issue has taken on urgency.

Mexico's mortality data shows that of the nearly 230,000 people who died of COVID-19 as of June 8

around 45% had high blood pressure, 37% had diabetes and 22% were obese.

Betzabe Salgado is a nutritionist at the children's hospital.

"What I have seen is that my patients are not organized and they do things in an easy manner. And advertising does well. So highly processed foods are much more readily available, but they don't have any nutritional value."

Carlos says he started overeating when pressure intensified at school.

Attempts to change his eating habits repeatedly failed - he would typically eat around 5,850 calories.

This is a visual representation of how much he would consume every day.

Now out of the program, his mother is grateful.

(Anna Maria) "The emotional support is very, very important as much for the parents as for the children, family-wise. We provide a lot of support for my son, but thank God - and to the doctors - that we can have him here.”