Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

Mexico is currently going through a nutrition transition. Mexicans are moving away from a traditional diet to a highly processed diet making them particularly vulnerable to chronic disease. Trade liberalization plays a huge role in this regard. After NAFTA had been implemented in 1994, the number of unhealthy food products from the United States to Mexico increased substantially. According to FAO and the OECD, Mexico has one of the highest obesity rates in the world. According to a national nutrition survey, Mexico is leading the world in childhood obesity with 30% under 15 years, 40.8% are overweight, over 15+, and 32.2% are obese, placing the country's second in the world. The indigenous population suffers from a higher nutritional risk and the over 33 percent chronic malnutrition rate for children under five. It is a central challenge for policymakers worldwide. The prevalence of nutritionrelated chronic disease would decrease by adopting â�?�?healthier dietsâ�? as recommended by the World Health Organization. Mexico's Department of Nutrition and Health Promotion uses The Plate of Good Eating (includes vegetables and fruits; cereals; and legumes and animal products) aims to provide recommendations for proper nutrition among the general population. Against this background, it is urgent to assess the impact of adopting a healthy diet in Mexico following the guidelines set by the Health Department of Mexico. The objective of the study is to calculate the macroeconomic impact of actual and recommended consumption of a healthy diet in Mexico. It also estimates the actual and recommended nutritional requirements across different age groups. It is an integrated exercise combining both Input-Output and Global CGE model. Finally, the study suggests some policy options to promote healthy eating for preventing obesity and chronic diseases.

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