wellness
Social connection as medicine: the loneliness epidemic
Mexico City residents are turning to group runs and market meetups to counter isolation that now affects one in three adults.
How we reported this
Chapultepec Park recorded 12,400 participants in organized Sunday group walks last month, a 40 percent jump from the same period in 2024, as health workers link the rise directly to efforts against rising loneliness.
The trend comes as Mexico City health authorities report that social isolation now ranks alongside hypertension as a top concern in routine IMSS check-ups, with residents citing long commutes and hybrid work as daily barriers to regular contact. City data shows the average adult spends 48 minutes less per day in face-to-face conversation than in 2019, pushing clinics to add referrals for community activities alongside standard blood-pressure checks.
Park paths and market stalls become meeting points
Runners gather at the Fuente de los Cántaros entrance every Sunday at 7 a.m. for the free Chapultepec Social Run, which ends with coffee at nearby puestos selling fresh tlayudas. The same morning, the Ciclovía closes Avenida Reforma from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., drawing cyclists who stop at the Alameda Central for impromptu breakfast groups organized by local IMSS wellness promoters. Participants pay nothing beyond the cost of a 35-peso tlayuda and report forming weekly circles that continue on weekdays at smaller neighborhood markets such as Mercado de Coyoacán.
A 2025 IMSS survey of 8,200 Mexico City patients found 34 percent screened positive for moderate to severe loneliness, with the highest rates among adults aged 25 to 44. The same study tied regular participation in group activities to a 22 percent drop in reported stress scores after eight weeks, measured through standard clinical questionnaires.
Small steps that fit existing routines
Residents can join the next Ciclovía ride this Sunday by meeting at the Monumento a la Independencia at 8:30 a.m., then continue to a shared meal at any of the fixed-price breakfast counters along Calle Luis Moya. Those preferring quieter settings can sign up for the twice-weekly walking groups at Bosque de Chapultepec’s second section, listed on the park’s posted schedule boards. Health officials continue to advise anyone experiencing persistent low mood to contact their nearest IMSS clinic for a full assessment before starting new routines.