Mexico declares public health emergency over obesity, diabetes

MEXICO CITY - Mexico on Monday marked World Diabetes Day by declaring a public health emergency over the rapid rise in obesity and diabetes.

"The decision was made after the National Institute of Statistics and Geography confirmed that between 2014 and 2015 the number of people who died of diabetes rose by more than 4,000," the daily La Jornada reported.

In that period, diabetes-related deaths increased from 94,000 to 98,450, according to the Health Ministry.

At a press conference, Deputy Minister of Health Pablo Kuri said the statistics led officials to take the unprecedented measure.

"It is the first time we have declared a health emergency over a disease that is not contagious, and we declared two, one for obesity and excess weight, and another for diabetes," said Kuri.

In 1980, 14,626 people in Mexico died of diabetes, showing the ailment spiked in the past 35 years, with more than 7 million Mexicans, or about 9 percent of the population, now suffering from the affliction.

Health Minister Jose Narro, who was on a working visit to the western city of Guadalajara, blamed a change in the Mexican diet and lack of exercise for the country's obesity and diabetes epidemics.

"In 35 years, genetics did not change. What changed was the lifestyle of Mexicans," Narro told reporters.

The health emergency calls for local, state and federal governments to work together to design and launch more effective prevention measures and awareness campaigns, among other steps.

"We shouldn't get used to diabetes existing and people dying. We can prevent that," Kuri said.