MEDIA FACTSHEET
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Research overview
The Rule of Halves analysis for Mexico City is based on new
research performed among people with type 2 diabetes between
the ages of 20 and 69. The qualitative diabetes vulnerability
assessment was based on 220 individual interviews with people
with type 2 diabetes in their own homes.
Research findings
•Three quarters of adults in Mexico City are overweight or have
obesity5
•Halving the increase in obesity in Mexico City could lead to
cost savings of 416 million USD per year by 20406
•Social and cultural factors that increase diabetes vulnerability
in Mexico City include gender roles which see women neglect
their own health for fear of being seen as ‘burdensome’ or
‘vulnerable’
•Diabetes vulnerability in the city may also be exacerbated
by insufficient medical insurance among disadvantaged
communities
•Many people in Mexico City believe that diabetes is caused
by stress and strong negative emotions. Low understanding,
myths and a lack of available information about diabetes
are key challenges to overcome in the prevention and
management of the condition
Mexico City fast facts
•Between 1965 and 2000, the population of Mexico
City grew 36%1
•Collectively, Mexicans drink the equivalent of 3.6
million cans of soft drink per day 2
•More than 200,000 cars are added to the streets of
Mexico City each year 3
•Diabetes is the leading cause of death in Mexico4
The view from Mexico City
“The insights we have gained from the Cities Changing Diabetes
research have fundamentally changed the way we think about
diabetes in our city. This new understanding of sociocultural
risk factors will guide the development of increasingly efficient
and targeted public health policies to support the health and
wellbeing of our citizens.”
Dr Armando Ahued Ortega,
Minister of Health of Mexico City
1. UNDESA. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. World Urbanization Prospects, the 2014 Revision, Highlights. 2014. 978-92-1-151517-6.
2. Vergara-Castaneda A, Castillo-Martinez L, Colin-Ramirez E, Orea-Tejeda A. Overweight, obesity, high blood pressure and lifestyle factors among Mexican children and their parents.
Environ Health Prev Med. 2010;15(6):358–366.
3. Miller A, Ford , K S. Mexico City Congestion.
4. IDF. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas. 7th edn. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation. 2015.
5. Barquera S TM, López-Ridaura R, et al. Preliminary report ERDM-DF. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública;2015.
6. Novo Nordisk, Data on file. 2015.
13149 CCD Factsheet_Mexico.indd 1
13/11/15 13:25