MEXICO CITY, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Deaths from diabetes in Mexico reached 105,500 in 2016, 7,000 more than the previous year, the country's health minister, Jose Narro, revealed Saturday.
Speaking to reporters during the third national race, "Moving Mexico for your health", Narro said that "from one year to the next, 7,000 additional deaths, which shows us the scale of the problem."
The minister said that World Diabetes Day would be celebrated on Nov. 14 and that Mexico would hold activities to promote physical activity and sports, in order to fight obesity and related diseases.
"Along with obesity grows diabetes, hypertension, kidney failure, many chronic diseases," added Narro.
According to a report by the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development (OECD) on Friday, Mexico continues to have the highest rate of obese and overweight people among its members.
"It is not about doing exercise one day, on Sunday, and then stop doing it throughout the week," said Narro. "What we need, systematically, is to do physical exercise."
According to the OECD, obesity affects 33.3 percent of the Mexican population over 15.
Furthermore, 35 percent of those aged 12-19 are overweight or obese.
