[N(poster)] ポスターセッション

英語

[1O23] Obesity and Bottler Territories in Mexico: Mapping Regional Disparities

*RESTREPO GOMEZ Katerine¹ (1. Nagoya University)

キーワード：

Obesity、Mexico、Food environments、Globalization and trade、Sustainable development

Obesity has become one of the most urgent public health challenges of the 21st century, affecting human security and sustainable development. Mexico illustrates this paradox: the country has some of the highest obesity rates worldwide while undernutrition persists in vulnerable populations. Since the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), trade liberalization has encouraged foreign direct investment and the spread of processed foods. In several Mexican states, Coca-Cola products are often more affordable and accessible than safe drinking water, making high-sugar beverages a staple even among households experiencing malnutrition. The Coca-Cola system is organized into eight independent bottlers whose territories cover the entire country. These territories overlap with distinct socioeconomic and cultural regions, offering a unique perspective on how corporate food environments intersect with regional health disparities. This study used municipal-level data (2,446 municipalities) to map obesity prevalence across bottler territories and to explore their socioeconomic profiles, including education, poverty, and urbanization indicators. The analysis revealed clear territorial differences: municipalities in Bepensa’s territory (Yucatán Peninsula) recorded the highest average prevalence, while those in Arca Continental’s territory (northern Mexico) showed lower averages but greater internal variation. Hotspots of high prevalence were concentrated in the northwest, northeast, and Yucatán Peninsula. These findings suggest that globalization, trade policy, and corporate practices shape local food environments in ways that contribute to unequal health outcomes. Framing obesity as a challenge for sustainable development underscores the need to address nutrition and inequality as central to development strategies.