Mexican kids would be much better off eating burgers at McDonald's, Wendy's and Jack in the Box than eating traditional Mexican food. Selected correctly, fast food can be healthy diet food.
Have you ever looked at the label on a package of plain burritos? They're almost nothing but fat with some carbs. Refried beans? Huge fat content. And poor quality fat at that. Grease, grease, grease and lack of protein and green veggies are a recipe for disaster.
I lived on the Mex-Tex border many years ago and it was always amazing to me how many overweight people I saw on frequent trips to Mexico. I do not in any way believe it's genetic. But it does seem more acceptable in the Mexican culture to get fat and stay fat.
I cook Mexican food occasionally and know it can be done on a high-protein low-carb and fat basis. But you have to ditch those tacos and burritos and eat only meat or fish dishes with delish Mexican seasoning.
I really don't understand all the blame on McDonalds ---- they were around back in the 60s if not before when childhood obesity wasn't a big problem. And it's silly to think that these people coming over from Mexico were all very svelte until they stepped their first foot into a McDonalds and that made them fat.
I agree it's not genetic either --- it's amazing how fast those bricks of lard go making just one meal --- you start with 3 inches in a pan of pure lard for anything you're going to make --- fideo, rice, enchiladas, beans and then you add lots of pure carbohydrates. I think that kind of meal if fine if you're going to be out doing hard physical labor all day --- but that's not the case for the majority.