• Achilles tendon

Currently, in all regions of the world apart from Africa, more deaths are linked to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) than communicable diseases (WHO, 2010). Being overweight is a major contributory risk factor for NCDs such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and type II diabetes. Of the six WHO-designated regions, the Region of the Americas has the highest prevalence (>60%) of overweight adults (aged 20+ years). Mexico is no exception—the proportion of Mexican adults who are overweight or obese has increased from 61.8% in 2000 to 69.7% in 2006 to 71.2% in 2012.1 The prevalence of overweight and obese adolescents is, however, of even greater concern; for example, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among girls (12–19 years old) has grown rapidly in less than 30 years; in this period, the prevalence has more than tripled, rising from 11.1% in 1988 to 28.3% in 1999 to 33.4% in 2006, and is now standing at 35.8% in 2012.2 This situation sent strong alarm bells to the Government and Ministry of Health in Mexico …