Obesity is a growing problem in Latin America. Although the latest official data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) is from 2016, with 23% of the population obese (well above the global average of 13%). Furthermore, the FAO estimates that the figure has increased to 28% in 2023. These are shocking figures.
Why are we talking about obesity? Because it is very prevalent. Or at least we are surprised by the number of overweight people we see. Although we are also know who the main culprit is.
But first a question: When you go to a restaurant, what do you order to drink?
We decide depending on the day and time. We like to have a beer or a wine at night. During the day we have whatever is available. Usually water, sparkling if there is any.
But they don’t always have water.
Sugary drinks: a determining factor
Let’s look at the case of Bolivia. In remote restaurants, if you want to be sure that what you’re served is drinkable, you don’t order water. You can choose between Coca Cola, Sprite and a few other local brands. All in the original version, of course, i.e. with the maximum amount of sugar. Water-based juices are also available in more crowded places. The most popular fruit juice is lemonade. If you are very lucky, you can even choose how much sugar you want to add.If not, you’ll left wondering if what you have just been served is actually liquid sugar.
From a European point of view, and being aware of the damage that sugar does, one is surprised at the amount of sugary drinks that are sold in these countries. And that is without having current figures for Bolivia. Moreover, the trend in South America is for the consumption of these drinks to increase, while in Europe it is decreasing.
Not everything they drink is soft drinks, juices are also very popular. Although it should be remembered that the WHO classifies them as sugary drinks and therefore they are part of the problem. People think they are drinking a healthy fruit-based drink, but the amount of sugar, both natural and added, is such that they are no longer healthy.
In Bolivia, for example, the consumption of sugary drinks was 94 litres per person per year in 2015, more than double that of Spain (36.9 litres in 2022). This trend is reflected in obesity rates: Argentina and Chile lead the region, while Peru has the lowest (20% in 2016). Spain’s rate is around 16%, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
The responsibility of companies and governments
There are action plans for the prevention of obesity from the Pan American Health Organisation. However, only six of the thirteen lines of action in this plan, which run from 2014 to 2019, have been implemented. But there is a lack of will (and probably also of support and economic interests) to change in the near future. Of course, there are many other factors influencing the increase in obesity. Here we’ve focussed on just one.
We hardly saw anyone with a glass or bottle of water in restaurants. Clearly the marketing departments of Coca Cola and Co. have done a great job. What’s more, people look at us strangely when we order water. And there have even been occasions when they’ve had to go to the nearest shop to buy water because they didn’t have any. At least in Bolivia. In Brazil you can usually find water, even sparkling water. Still, the natural juices (with little sugar) are delicious. Especially because of the rich variety of fruits that exist in the region.