According to the survey, at least 18 percent of adults suffer from diabetes—though one-third are unaware of their diagnosis—while 40 percent suffer from obesity and 30 percent live with hypertension (with 43 percent unaware of the condition).

  In its digital edition, the prestigious newspaper *La Jornada* cited Rosaura Ruiz, the Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation, who emphasized the importance of maintaining healthy habits, particularly regarding diet and exercise.   The official noted that “external factors play a major role, such as the obesogenic environment that makes it easy to access sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods,” though she warned that it is also a matter of “individual responsibility.”

  In her view, Mexican genetics may “have a direct link to the incidence of these diseases, but the choices we make regarding our diet and physical activity are also very important.”

  Meanwhile, Ruben Silva, head of the Medical Division within the IMSS-Bienestar Health Care Unit, mentioned that most diabetes diagnoses occur around age 40, whereas in other nations, they typically occur at age 55 or 60.

  Consequently, he recommended that citizens undergo routine medical check-ups starting at age 40 to monitor sugar levels, lipid levels, and weight in order to prevent the development of these conditions.

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