Possible School Zones Potentially Banning Fast Food Establishments in Mexico?
Tackling Childhood Obesity in Mexico: A Multifaceted Approach
Childhood obesity is a growing concern in Mexico, with 73% of the population being overweight, according to a 2019 OECD report. One in three children is overweight, and childhood obesity has doubled between 1996 and 2016, reaching a world record of 15%.
The places that influence children's nutritional choices in Mexico are school, home, and street. However, the approach taken by food industry giants in Mexico favors personal responsibility and promoting better food education rather than specific product restrictions.
In an effort to address this issue, the Mexican Senate unanimously voted to amend Article 75 of the General Education Law in February 2021, prohibiting the sale of junk food near school campuses. This legislation is part of a broader strategy to prevent childhood obesity through health assessments, education, and legislation banning junk food in schools.
The Healthy Living, Happy Life program, a flagship government initiative, has assessed nearly 4 million public elementary school children for weight and related health issues. The program, which was launched in 2025–2026, revealed that 49.7% of children have a healthy weight, 18.5% are overweight, and 18.3% are obese. The program includes teacher training, health education, and the elimination of junk food sales on school premises to promote healthier eating habits early in life.
Beyond government action, organizations like UNICEF have supported Mexico in improving national food and nutrition policies aimed at preventing childhood overweight and obesity, advancing multisector partnerships to scale up prevention efforts.
In addition to these initiatives, the federal government implemented a tax on sugary drinks in Mexico in 2014 and required schools to provide water in 2015. The law does not specify which products are considered unhealthy in Mexico, only that they must follow the labeling classifications of the Secretariat of Health. Certain products were no longer allowed to advertise during children's television programs in 2014.
Regional responses have also been implemented, with the state of Oaxaca banning junk food and sodas from being sold to children under 18 in August 2020, followed by the state of Tabasco shortly after. In urban areas, it is not common for schools to provide a real lunch for children, and students often have a snack before having a meal later in the afternoon or buy food directly at a counter located in the school or on the street.
The food industry in Mexico argues that their efforts towards healthier products are still in competition with street food. Last October, a decree on food packaging labeling was enacted in Mexico, requiring manufacturers to inform consumers about the nutritional quality of products with the quantity of sugar, salt, or saturated fats they contain. The new law aims to reduce the risks associated with the sale of low-nutrient, high-calorie foods around school campuses, but it does not specify where the restrictions will apply.
Despite these efforts, there is still disagreement among Mexican politicians about who should be responsible for children's health. In August 2020, the state of Oaxaca banned junk food and sodas from being sold to children under 18, and the state of Tabasco followed with a similar law shortly after.
Sources:
- Healthy Living, Happy Life program: www.gob.mx/salud/documentos/programa-viva-saludable-feliz
- OECD report: www.oecd.org/mexico/well-being/obesity-in-mexico.htm
- UNICEF Mexico: www.unicef.org/mexico/child-survival-and-development/child-obesity
- Breastfeeding as a strategy to reduce obesity risk: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166028/
- The Mexican Senate, aiming to combat childhood obesity, amended Article 75 of the General Education Law in February 2021, prohibiting the sale of junk food near school campuses, thereby fostering a healthier environment for students.
- Beyond government action, international organizations like UNICEF support Mexico in improving national food and nutrition policies related to preventing childhood overweight and obesity, and advocate for multisector partnerships to scale up prevention efforts.
- In a broader strategy to prevent childhood obesity, the Healthy Living, Happy Life program assesses children’s weight and related health issues, provides teacher training, health education, and prohibits junk food sales on school premises, promoting healthier eating habits early in life.
- Policy-and-legislation, such as the tax on sugary drinks in Mexico implemented in 2014 and the decree on food packaging labeling enacted in October 2020, aim to reduce the risks associated with the sale of low-nutrient, high-calorie foods. These policies are part of the effort to combat childhood obesity, but there is still disagreement among Mexican politicians about who should be responsible for children’s health.
