It is no longer news to mention that in terms of health and nutrition, Mexico is a country where much still needs to be done regarding the formation of habits. The reality that the country faces is a mixture of various factors related to our education and Western culture. It is not possible to point to a single culprit; however, two activities stand out that we engage in every day: eating and physical activity.
The reality of Mexico can be exemplified with a scale, where on one side we find a diet with high caloric value and low nutritional value, dominated by ultra-processed foods. On the other side of the scale, we find insufficient physical activity to balance the entire food intake. The side that is clearly out of balance is physical activity.
This scale is a reflection of the country. A large percentage of the Mexican population applies this equation. This is why Mexico ranks second in adult obesity and first in childhood obesity.
It is evident that the lack of motivation and the current pace of life increasingly distances people from engaging in a specific physical discipline. Physical activity is already a part of everyone’s daily routine (climbing stairs, grocery shopping, carrying water jugs, etc.); however, physical exercise refers to a routine, something structured, that pursues a specific goal.
It is important to recognize that most people are recreational athletes, not high-performance athletes who compete in the Olympics. To begin implementing an exercise routine, the same approach as with diet should be used: it should be gradual, adapted to the person's lifestyle, and focused on determining specific goals. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 150 minutes of aerobic exercise (such as walking a few kilometers) per week, and that can be a good starting point.
There are numerous benefits that physical exercise offers, as it can greatly improve a person's health status and, consequently, their quality of life. This sounds quite encouraging, with examples such as: strengthening the body’s systems, primarily the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, improving laboratory parameters like glucose and triglycerides, reducing stress hormones like cortisol, and significantly increasing constructive hormones like testosterone and dopamine. All of this should be accompanied by a nutrition plan that truly nourishes, sufficient rest, and the necessary attitude. Because, let's remember, the human being is an integral being, and everything must work together: body, mind, and spirit.
LN Rodrigo Luévano
