Espinosa Urging Mexico’s Lawmakers to Fight Childhood Obesity

Paola Espinosa is encouraging Mexico’s leaders to dive into the issue of the country’s obesity epidemic…

The 26-year-old Mexican diver, who earned a silver medal in synchronized diving at the 2012 London Games, is urging her country’s lawmakers to do more to ensure Mexico no longer leads the world in childhood obesity.
Paola Espinosa
“Pass laws that promote programs so we’re no longer No. 1 in childhood obesity,” Espinosa said this week in a ceremony at the lower house of Congress to honor Mexico’s medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2012 Paralympics.

Obesity currently affects 29 percent of Mexican boys and girls between the ages of five and 11, 30 percent of children aged 12-19 and seven of 10 adults, according to the Health Secretariat.

Also attending the ceremony were divers Iván García, Germán Sánchez and Laura Sánchez and archer Aida Roman, as well as 10 Paralympics’ athletes.

Espinosa and her diving partner Alejandra Orozco won a silver medal in the synchronized 10m platform at the London Games.