MEXICO-HEALTH Mexico gives away metro tickets in exchange for 10 squats

Record ID: 146403

  • Title: MEXICO-HEALTH Mexico gives away metro tickets in exchange for 10 squats
  • Date: 21st July 2015
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OBESE PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET
  • Embargoed: 5th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAPBB4P5GIHLXKLGS5WDLC14DC
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: To combat obesity, which Mexico City has declared a public health priority, lawmakers have introduced a measure to promote exercise and healthy eating by giving free metro rides if passengers perform 10 squats.
    Quickly catching up with its neighbour the U.S., Mexico is ranked second in the world in having the highest rate of obesity. The government estimates that some 37 million people qualify as obese.
    The campaign, which was organised by Mexico City's Health Ministry and began on July 15, aims to give away 50,000 tickets to users who do squats at the 30 so-called "health stations" in 21 Metrobus stations.
    "The Health Stations" are equipped with an electronic meter that asks the user to perform 10 consecutive squats. As the user performs each squats, it offers tips to the user on how to lead a healthier life.
    Metrobus user, Monica Velazquez, said she though the incentive was positive.
    "I think it's a very good activity. It's promoting having good health to people who spend a lot of time sitting down, without doing anything. I think it's a very good option," said Velazquez.
    The campaign aims to encourage people to be physically active and help to reduce rates of obesity. Stress balls, pedometers and condoms are also being given away.
    "It's a health machine. You have to do squats. If users, per person, manage to do ten squats, they obtain a ticket from the machine. They can exchange that ticket for a metro ticket or for a strip of condoms. If they don't want those rewards, they can continue to accumulate them. With three tickets, on different dates, they receive an anti-stress ball, or (if they accumulate) five on different dates, they can obtain pedometer, a device that measures distance on foot," said a trainer from Mexico City's Health Ministry, Mitzi Sanchez.
    According to a news release, Mexico City officials reported that to date 73 thousand 947 hundred users have made more than 750 thousand squats. So far, 60 thousand 985 hundred pedometers have been given away.
    In the coming weeks, Banco Santander will donate 25 thousand Metrobus cards, according to the news release.
    Other measures include a 2014 tax on sugary drinks and junk food and banning unhealthy food from school cafeterias. Mexico City officials also require all schools to provide water fountains to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks. About 600 outdoor gyms around Mexico City have been set-up with thousands more in the works.
    Clinics dedicated to treating overweight patients have also been opened in 12 stations of the Public Transport System (CTS). The clinic provides advice, free medical treatments and operations at a fraction of the cost in private hospitals.
    Mexico faces an acute obesity crisis, with 70 percent of adults overweight or obese, according to Mexico's National Institute for Public Health (INSP).
    Experts say one reason why obesity is such a problem in Mexico stems from the power of multinational food and beverage firms, particularly those from the United States.
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