MEXICO: Mexico may overtake US on obesity rate
Mexico probably will surpass the US in obesity rates for the first time next year as it adopts the fast food and sedentary lifestyles of its neighbour, according to the Bloomberg news agency.
The health crisis prompted Mexico’s congress this month to move toward making school exercise mandatory. Mexico City has called in a Texas doctor to wean kids off pizza and fries, while Health Ministry ads warn fat can lead to diabetes and heart disease.
“Obese and overweight adults went from nowhere in 1990 to 62% in 2000,” said Barry Popkin, an economist and nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, citing a Mexican government study. “You are talking about an astronomical increase coming at a very fast rate and it’s continuing.”
Weight-related illnesses pose a growing threat to Latin America’s second-largest economy, said Juan Rivera, who’s leading Mexico’s second national obesity study at the National Institute of Public Health, due in 2006. Diabetes alone, the most common disease associated with excess weight, cost Mexico as much as US$15.1bn in 2000, mostly in reduced productivity and lost wages because of premature death, according to a World Health Organization estimate.
More: just-food.com
Mexico May Overtake U.S. as Fattest Nation Amid Junk Food Binge
Mexico probably will surpass the U.S. in obesity rates for the first time next year as the Latin American nation adopts the fast food and sedentary lifestyles of its neighbor to the north.
The brewing health crisis prompted Mexico's congress this month to move toward making school exercise mandatory. Mexico City has called in a Texas doctor to wean kids off pizza and fries, while Health Ministry ads warn fat can lead to diabetes and heart disease.
``Obese and overweight adults went from nowhere in 1990 to 62 percent
'Latinos and obesity' topic of U.S.-Mexico health task force
The Fresno County Binational Health Task Force and the Department of Health Science at Fresno State will join the commemoration of the 5th annual U.S.-Mexico Binational Health Week with a forum on Latinos and obesity Oct. 12 at Fresno State.
The program, “Obesity: The Silent Epidemic in Latino Communities,†will be from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in University Center, Room 200. Parking restrictions will be relaxed in Lot D.
Speakers are Fresno State faculty members Dr. Helda Pinzon-Perez and Dr. Felicia Greer, plus Dr. Jose Gallegos Martinez, a staff physician at the Hospital
Mexico's Inflation Rate Fell to Record Low of 3.05% in October
Mexico's annual inflation rate fell to a record low in October, adding to speculation that the central bank will keep cutting the benchmark lending rate to bolster economic growth.
Inflation was 3.05 percent in the 12 months through October, down from 3.51 percent in September, the central bank said. That's the lowest annual inflation rate since the central bank began keeping records in 1969. Mexico's monthly inflation rate fell to 0.25 percent in October from 0.4 percent the previous month.
The central bank, taking advantage of the slowdown in inflation,
Mexico Fixed-Rate Bond Yields to Rise on Inflation, Moreno Says
Mexico's fixed-rate peso bond yields may rise in 2006 as the inflation rate climbs from a record low, said Salvador Moreno, chief economist at ING Groep NV's Mexican unit.
The yield on fixed-rate bonds may rise as much as 30 basis points, or 0.3 percentage point, as higher-than-expected consumer price increases drive down already ``tight'' valuations, Moreno said. The annual inflation rate may climb as high as 3.9 percent in January, more than the 3.5 percent expected by many fund managers, he said.
``There's a risk that inflation expectations rise
Mexico's Inflation Rate Drops to Record Low in August (Update1)
Mexico's annual inflation rate fell to the lowest on record in August, adding to expectations that the central bank will cut the benchmark lending rate for a second straight month.
Inflation in the 12 months through August slowed to 3.95 percent, the lowest rate since the central bank began keeping records in 1969, from 4.47 percent in July. The monthly inflation rate dropped to 0.12 percent from 0.39 percent in July as the cost of cars and vegetables such as tomatoes and avocados fell.
``Inflation has been declining consistently and
Mexico, Brazil Inflation Slows, Paving Way for Rate Reductions
Slowing inflation in Mexico and Brazil, Latin America's two biggest economies, is paving the way for central bankers to cut interest rates and curb gains in their currencies, analysts such as UBS AG's Michael Gavin said.
Government reports scheduled for release today will show Mexico's annual inflation rate dropped to a record low in September while Brazil's rate held near its lowest in 16 months, according to more than a dozen economists surveyed by Bloomberg.
Declining inflation rates may prompt Mexico to reduce its benchmark lending rate for a third straight
Mexico Lowers Benchmark Rate to 20-Month Low of 7%
Mexicos central bank unexpectedly reduced its benchmark overnight rate for a ninth straight month to bolster growth in Latin Americas second-biggest economy. Policy makers said they see no room for further reductions in the foreseeable future.
Banco de Mexico cut its overnight target rate a quarter- percentage point to a 20-month low of 7 percent, bringing it down 2.75 percentage points from 9.75 percent in August. Twelve of 21 economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast the central bank would leave the rate unchanged at todays meeting.
The rate cut drove stocks up
Mexico's Central Bank Reduces Rates to Boost Economy (Update1)
Mexico's central bank reduced its benchmark lending rate for a second time in as many months to help jumpstart a slowing economy, taking advantage of slowing inflation.
The Bank of Mexico said in a statement it will allow the overnight rate to decline to 9.25 percent from 9.50 percent following a reduction of 0.25 percentage point at its Aug. 26 meeting, which marked the first time ever the central bank set a rate for the market.
``The Mexican economy reduced its expansion rate during the first half of the year, showing lower
The Conference Board(R) Mexico Business Cycle Indicators(SM)
Mexico Leading Economic Indicators and Related Composite Indexes for October 2005
The leading index was unchanged in October following four consecutive gains. Oil prices and stock prices were the main contributors to this month's weakness in the leading index, but in recent months the strengths among the leading indicators were relatively more widespread. Despite no change in October, the leading index continued to grow at about a 10.0 to 11.0 percent annual rate in recent months, well above the 3.0 to 4.0 percent rate
Mexico Cuts Interest Rate a 4th Month to Spur Economy
Mexico's central bank cut the benchmark interest rate a fourth time in as many months to spur the economy as inflation slows.
Banco de Mexico reduced the overnight lending rate to 8.75 percent from 9 percent, citing an improving inflation outlook. The five-member board led by Governor Guillermo Ortiz reiterated today in a statement its inflation forecast of 3.5 percent for this year, within the target of 2 percent to 4 percent.
``The message is that they'll continue to ease policy,'' Hector Soto, who helps manage $1.2 billion of Mexican
