NGOs urge to pass law to prevent schools from “promoting” obesity in Mexico

Mexico City, 22 Mar Mexican schools are spaces that “promote” obesity, so it is urgent to approve and implement the reform of the General Education Law on healthy school environments, experts and legislators considered Tuesday. “Schools are spaces that promote obesity since the prevalence of this disease throughout primary school increases by 50%,” the member organizations of ContraPeso and the Food Health Alliance warned in a newsletter. According to the agencies, during the school day, which lasts an average of four and a half hours, there are more than five opportunities to consume products that predominate so-called “junk food” and sugary drinks, leading to an average consumption of 550 calories. They recalled that in Mexico 38.2% of children live overweight or obese and 1 in 2 will develop diabetes throughout their lives if they do not take urgent prevention measures; in addition, this context was further aggravated by the current coronavirus pandemic. IT IS URGENT TO ADOPT A LAW Against this background, the organizations trusted that the Chamber of Deputies will advance and approve the initiative to reform the General Education Law, promoted by Deputy Armando Contreras Castillo, member of the Justice Commission. For the legislator, it is necessary to lay a political basis for school feeding to transform schools into healthy spaces. Among the points addressed by this reform are the strengthening of guidelines for the preparation, distribution and sale of prepared and pre-packaged food and beverages to ensure a healthy environment and lifestyles. In addition to prohibiting the sale and advertising of ultra-processed products with low nutritional value, as well as ensuring access to natural foods. In addition, it seeks to promote healthy environments and lifestyles, through active play, physical activities and sports, both on and off campus, and to promote orientation and education programs for healthy and nutritious eating aimed at children and adolescents. While figures from UNICEF detail that 1 in 20 girls and boys under 5 years old, and 1 in 3 between 6 and 19 years old, is overweight or obese. CHIEF csr/mqb/dmt