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 Mexico City fast facts the ages of 20 and 69. The qualitative diabetes vulnerability • Between 1965 and 2000, the population of Mexico assessment was based on 220 individual interviews with people City grew 36%1 with type 2 diabetes in their own homes. • Collectively, Mexicans drink the equivalent of 3.6 million cans of soft drink per day2 Research findings • More than 200,000 cars are added to the streets of • Three quarters of adults in Mexico City are overweight or have Mexico City each year3 obesity5 • Diabetes is the leading cause of death in Mexico4 • 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 The view from Mexico City ‘vulnerable’ “The insights we have gained from the Cities Changing Diabetes • Diabetes vulnerability in the city may also be exacerbated research have fundamentally changed the way we think about by insufficient medical insurance among disadvantaged diabetes in our city. This new understanding of sociocultural communities risk factors will guide the development of increasingly efficient • Many people in Mexico City believe that diabetes is caused and targeted public health policies to support the health and by stress and strong negative emotions. Low understanding, wellbeing of our citizens.” myths and a lack of available information about diabetes Dr Armando Ahued Ortega, are key challenges to overcome in the prevention and Minister of Health of Mexico City management of the condition 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.