In North Mexico, Church shares health message where obesity is an epidemic

A trainer leads a crowd at the Explanada de los Heroes Plaza in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on April 13, 2014, after the Adventist Church distributed some 20,000 salads during a health impact initiative to promote a healthy lifestyle amid the growing epidemic of obesity in the country. The event was part of a series of activities held during the eight weeks of the church’s “I Want to Live Healthy” initiative. Image by Aljafet Chable/IAD.

April 29, 2014 – Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico…Dulce Monjaraz/IAD Staff

In North Mexico more than 20,000 salad portions were distributed in Monterrey’s Explanada de los Heroes Park during an eight-week health impact initiative led by the Adventist Church in the region to promote a healthy lifestyle amid the growing epidemic of obesity in the country. The packaged salads were given out for free April 13, 2014, while government leaders, church leaders and members supported the church-run initiative “I Want to Live Healthy.”

Pastor Filiberto Grajeda (third from left), president of the Northeast Conference in North Mexico, speaks to Health Secretary of the State of Nuevo Leon Dr. Jesus Zacarias Villarreal (fourth from left) as they enjoy a salad with other church leaders during the activity on Apr. 13, 2014. Image by Aljafet Chablet/IAD

Health Secretary of the State of Nuevo Leon Dr. Jesus Zacarias Villarreal praised the work of the organizers for the initiative and pointed to the obesity and associated diseases as a result of poor nutrition which constitutes the main public health problem in Mexico and the state of Nuevo Leon.

According to Dr. Villarreal, obesity affects 71 percent of the adult population in the state of Nuevo Leon, due to factors such as poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle which lead to other health problems like diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension, among others.

“We have been closely coordinating with the ‘I Want to Live Healthy’ initiative,” said Dr. Villarreal. “It is a broad-reaching movement and at the government of the state we are very satisfied, happy and celebrate together that this program has been launched.”

Three people from Monterrey enjoy the free salad during the “I Want to Live Healthy” activity on April 13, 2014. Image by Aljafet Chable/IAD

More than 7,000 church member volunteers from throughout the Northeast Conference and metropolitan areas participated in setting up a giant salad display and information booths on the eight steps to live a healthy lifestyle: drinking water, positive attitude, eating salads, exercising, rest, avoid poor foods, eat better breakfast, less dinners and promote happiness as a lifestyle, organizers said.

The activity was covered by local television and print media, organizers said.

The outdoor activity was part of the church’s series of activities in North Mexico’s impact evangelism program to reach people with the health message, said Pastor Arturo King, president of the church in North Mexico.

“This was actually an initiative led by our Northeast conference and is part of the union’s larger strategy to continue introducing the health message to our communities,” said Pastor King. “We have seen many join the church because of this eight-week evangelism effort.”

The Adventist Church concluded its eight-week health impact initiative with a special program held at the Monterrey Arena on Apr. 19, 2014. The program was carried live on Esperanza TV and 3ABN Latino. Image by Ingrid Gallardo/IAD

The effort ended the special health initiative program on April 19, 2014, at Monterrey Arena, where more than 11,000 people gathered to hear testimonies of dozens who had changed to a healthier lifestyle during the eight-weeks the activity was held as well as hear messages of the importance of spiritual health by Adventist Evangelist Alejandro Bullon.

The concluding program was transmitted by Esperanza TV and 3ABN Latino.

For Gloria Elena Marroquin, a volunteer who participated in promoting health habits in Monterrey, the initiative awakened the interests of many people.

“We saw that exists a real concern regarding health in the population. People have health problems not because they want to, but many times because they don’t know the right information to live healthier,” said Marroquin.

More than 11,000 people crowed the Monterrey Arena to witness the end of a two-month “I Want to Live Healthy” church-run initiative. Image by Daniel Gallardo/IAD

Maria Guadalupe Eguia liked the initiative and added that “there has to be a culture to learn how to eat better, one that we have learned here and yet sometimes we don’t use for ourselves nor our children.”

Church leaders are happy with the results of the initiative and continue to plan in the coming weeks and months to share a healthier lifestyle with the people of Nuevo León.

The “I Want To Live Healthy” church initiative has been implemented in 17 states in Mexico. The program centers around the health message which focuses on the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the person.

For more information on the church in North Mexico and its initiatives, visit unionmexicanadelnorte