Introduction
Obesity is a health condition in which the Body Mass Index (MBI) is more than 30. Someone with a BMI of 25-29.99 is considered overweight because physicians recommend that people maintain a BMI of between 20 and 24.99 (Haerens, 7). BMI is a standard measure obtained by dividing the weight of a person in Kilograms (Kg) with the square of their height in Meters (M) {Kg /M2}. In 2009, 63.2% of US adults were either overweight or obese. In the same the year, 66.7% of all adults in the state of Texas were overweight (37.2%) or obese (29.5%) (Salinas et al, 2012). An obesity report released in 2010 showed that Texas had the 13th highest rate of obesity in the US. In a state with more than 25 million people, these figures translate into millions of people suffering from obesity. Constantly, Texas has recorded increasing rates of obesity among people of all ages in comparison with the national average.
The densely populated and urban areas of Texas record higher rates of obesity as compared to other areas. In 2009, Out Of the 29.5% (7.35million people) who are obese in the whole of Texas, Dallas County contributed 22.5% (1.65 million people) (Salinas et al, 1205). The Ft. Worth (In Metro Area) also contributes significantly to obesity rates in Texas with 33.2% of its population being obese. The Ft. Worth –Arlington Area has an obesity rate of 35.2% (Salinas et al, 1205). These areas like many urban areas in the US record high levels of obesity because of compromised lifestyles where people have more access to fast foods and lifestyles in which work takes up a large portion of people’s time and the people have high laxity to physical exercise.
Texas has a high rate of obesity among adolescents and children. 13.6% of adolescents (grades 9 to 12) were obese. In addition, 15.3% of children aged 2 to 5 years were also obese. In the US, the rate of obesity among children and adolescents has tripled since 1980 (Combs, 2014). Currently, 20.4% of Texan children aged 10 to 17 years of age are obese. The national average for children in this age bracket is 16.4% (Combs, 2014). The state of Texas is currently in the 7 position together with Arkansas State on the prevalence rate of obesity among children in the US. The sad fact is that obese children have an 80% of staying obese throughout their lives (Salinas et al, 1205). These statistics present the urgent need for the state government of Texas to take appropriate measures to curb rising obesity especially among children.
Obesity has become a serious concern for Texans. Being overweight and obese increase’s a person’s risks of strike, heart disease, certain cancers, high blood pressure and type II diabetes other serious conditions. In 2001, the economic effects of obesity were estimated to be more than $10.5 billion. In 2012 the national economic losses attributed to obesity amounted to %147 billion (Salinas et al, 1205). This includes the direct healthcare costs such as hospital stays and medicines as well as indirect costs such as reduced productivity due to death and illness. If the rates of obesity continue to increase in Texas, then the economic losses from obesity could skyrocket to $39 billion by 2040.
Conclusion
Texas has an obesity prevalence rate of about 30% while the national average is about 25%. The state also posts high obesity rates among children and adults. The state’s urban areas such as Dallas County and Fort Worth have high rates of 22.5% and 33% prevalence rates respectively. The state of Texas has started the Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity prevention Program (NPAOP) which works to reduce diseases and deaths related to being overweight and being obese (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2014). The NPAOP bases its activities on current and proven public health strategies. It then partners with local and state organizations and groups across the state to promote physical activity and science-based nutrition interventions and policies (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2014). In all, it is notable that the state of Texas has very high levels of obesity as compared to the national average and it is in order that state health authorities put in place measure to lower obesity rates.
Works Cited
Combs, Susan. "Obesity: The Cost of Doing Nothing." Obesity: The Cost of Doing Nothing. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. <http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/obesitycost/preface.php>.
Haerens, Margaret. Obesity. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Print.
Salinas, Jennifer J., Elizabeth Rocha, Bassent E. Abdelbary, Jennifer Gay, and Ken Sexton. "Impact of Hispanic Ethnic Concentration and Socioeconomic Status on Obesity Prevalence in Texas Counties." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 9.12 (2012): 1201-1215. Print.
Texas Department of State Health Services. "Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention Program." Texas Healthy Living. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. <http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/obesity/NPAO
