Mexican children ‘encouraged to read not exercise’
The attitude of Parents in Mexico may be behind the lack of physical activity done by youngsters in the country, new research has shown.
According to a study carried out at the University of Illinois, deep-rooted family and cultural values and heritage could cause parents to discourage their children from exercising.
Angela Wiley, associate professor of applied family studies at the university, said the problem of obesity in the country could be intrinsically linked to the lack of encouragement to lead a healthy lifestyle.
She added that it is more likely for parents to encourage their children to read or write and prepare for college than to get active.
"In Mexico, where there are very high rates of obesity and diabetes, we'd expect parents to encourage their teens to be active, but this study tells us the opposite is often true, at least for college-bound students," Ms Wiley commented.
According to data from Unicef, 98 per cent of adults aged over 15 years old in Mexico can read and write.
