In Mexico, the population with chronic degenerative diseases is growing. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT) indicate that at least 18 percent of adults suffer from diabetes, although a third are unaware of their diagnosis; at least 40 percent are obese, and 30 percent of adults over 18 have hypertension, although 43 percent are unaware they have it.
Specialists from the Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition and the IMSS-Bienestar program warned the public about the risks of developing these diseases due to inadequate nutrition and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.
At the second Science Forum, convened by the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI), Sergio Hernández, director of the Comprehensive Care Center for Patients with Diabetes at the aforementioned institute; Rubén Silva, head of the Medical Division at the IMSS-Bienestar Health Care Unit, and Diana Castañares, a clinical nutrition specialist, pointed out that while there is a genetic predisposition among the Mexican population to these illnesses, other factors also play a role.
Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez, head of the Secihti (Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation), emphasized the importance of maintaining healthy habits, particularly regarding diet and exercise, because “external elements, such as the obesogenic environment that facilitates access to sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods, have a significant impact, but it is also an individual responsibility.”
She stressed that the genetics of Mexicans may “have a direct relationship with the incidence of these diseases, but how we choose our diet and physical activity is also very important.”
In the Secihti auditorium, the specialists noted that the country not only has a high incidence of these illnesses, but that “they cannot be diagnosed in isolation, as they are interrelated”; “We also know that we are getting sick at younger ages and with greater severity,” explained Rubén Silva.
The specialist detailed that, unlike other countries, in Mexico most patients diagnosed with diabetes, which “is almost always associated with obesity and hypertension,” are diagnosed around age 40, while in other nations it tends to have a higher incidence starting at age 55 or 60 and older.
This, he said, means that people will live longer with the disease, so he recommended starting at age 40 for a routine medical checkup to monitor blood sugar, lipid, and weight levels in order to prevent the development of these illnesses.
Diana Castañares emphasized that maintaining a healthy diet and an active lifestyle with exercise are “vital for preventing these chronic diseases, because just as we take care of our heart or brain, we must also take care of our body’s muscles with proper nutrition and exercise.”
Sergio Hernández also urged the public “not to be afraid of a diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension. In recent years, science has advanced greatly in these diseases, and early detection increases the likelihood of successful treatment and a better quality of life.”
Source: jornada
