Mexico is a world
leader in obesity and diabetes. Focalized and population-wide programs have
been implemented to reduce excess weight but their impact has been limited, leading
to the discussion of new and potentially more effective public health
interventions. Structural interventions, such as financial disincentives, aim
to sustainably change the environment in which persons live, facilitating
healthier decisions. In January 2014 the Mexican Government implemented a
1-peso-per-liter tax to industrialized sugar sweetened beverages, in an attempt
to disincentivize consumption and reduce their important caloric contribution
to the Mexican diet.
In this seminar we
will review the process that led to the implementation of the tax, its expected
impact and the challenges it still faces.