Texas and Oklahoma rank high in obesity rates
Save Email Print
Bookmark and Share
Updated: 12:23 AM Jul 8, 2011
Texas and Oklahoma rank high in obesity rates
TEXOMA-The obesity epidemic is growing, according to a new report by Trust for America's Health, and not one state has reported a decrease in obesity rates. Victoria Maranan tells us how Texas and Oklahoma stack up.
Posted: 11:17 PM Jul 7, 2011
Reporter: Victoria Maranan
Email Address: victoria.maranan@kxii.com
width:640 and height: 360 and picwidth: 240 and pciheight: 135
Font Size:

TEXOMA-The obesity epidemic is growing, according to a new report by Trust for America's Health, and not one state has reported a decrease in obesity rates. Victoria Maranan tells us how Texas and Oklahoma stack up.

Fifteen years ago, Texas ranked as 16th fattest state in the U.S. This year, they come in at 12th with 30% of the state's adults classified as obese. Oklahoma ranks 7th in the nation for obesity. I spoke with a resident who has been struggling with her weight as well as health professionals on what you can do to get healthy.

"Look at me. I am fat, I know. Summertime I don't eat as much and I lose more weight in the summer, but I drink plenty of water and I'm working on it trying to get it off."

Grayson county resident Lodainer Sebolt is one of thousands of Texans who make up 30% of the state's obese population, making Texas the 12th fattest state in the nation. TexomaCare physician, Dr. Duke Carlson, said that number needs to go down.

"It's just a little disappointing but it gives us some room for improvement, I guess, is one way to look at it. When you look at why we have more obesity than the rest of the country, it really boils down to two things: activity level and carbohydrate and calorie consumption," he said.

Carlson said obesity doesn't just affect your waistline, but the rest of your well-being.

"Heart disease, and diabetes and high blood pressure, that's just really expensive and it erodes away the quality of people's lives."

Trainer Tori Park said exercise is important to combat obesity and a little activity goes a long way.

"You can start by just walking, you need to start with just even 15 minutes a day. I recommend first thing in the morning because very few people have excuses first thing in the morning. So, get up 15 minutes earlier, it's cooler at that time than any other time of the day."

And Dr. Carlson said healthy habits have to be introduced early.

"We need to get kids active. We need our lunch programs to demonstrate healthy eating: more fresh fruits and vegetables, more healthy greens," he said.

Sebolt made some changes in her lifestyle, she's now 20 pounds lighter and has more energy.

"I eat less, I stay away from white foods: bread, potatoes, pastas and I take my kids swimming just about everyday."

Both Park and Dr. Carlson also said rest is key to a healthier weight, because if the body overworks, it over compensates. Mississippi has the highest obesity rate in the nation while Colorado has the lowest.

For the rest of the study, go to the Trust for America's Health website.


WebMD Health News
AP Top Health Stories
  • Common antibiotic boosts death risk: study

    Antibiotic used for treating bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and STDs may boost risk of deathA popular antibiotic used for treating bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and sexually transmitted diseases may boost the risk of death, a US study said Wednesday.


  • Paralysed woman drinks coffee with thought-guided robot arm

    Scientists in the United States have enabled a paralysed woman to drink coffee with a thought-controlled robotic armScientists in the United States have enabled a paralysed woman to lift a drink to her lips with a thought-controlled robotic arm, boosting hopes that tetraplegics may regain their independence.


  • High blood pressure affects 1 in 3: WHO

    Canada and the United States have the fewest patients with high blood pressure, the WHO saidOne in three adults suffers from high blood pressure, a key trigger of heart disease, health experts said on Wednesday while underlining the growing number of cases in developing countries.


  • TB patient charged in Calif. for not taking meds

    In this undated photo supplied by the San Joaquin County District Attorney's office, Armando Rodriguez is seen wearing a protective mask. Prosecutors say 34-year-old Armando Rodriguez, a tuberculosis patient, has been arrested for refusing to take his medication and missing doctor appointments, and is endangering public health by not treating the airborne disease. (AP Photo/San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office)Authorities in California took the unusual step of jailing and charging a tuberculosis patient who they say refused to take medication to keep his disease from becoming contagious.


  • Coffee buzz: Study finds java drinkers live longer

    In this Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 photo, espresso flows into a cup at a coffee house in Overland Park, Kan. A large U.S. federal study concludes people who drink coffee seem to live a little longer. Researchers saw a clear connection between cups consumed and years of life. Whether it was regular or decaf didn't matter. The results are published in the Thursday, May 17, 2012 New England Journal of Medicine. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)One of life's simple pleasures just got a little sweeter. After years of waffling research on coffee and health, even some fear that java might raise the risk of heart disease, a big study finds the opposite: Coffee drinkers are a little more likely to live longer. Regular or decaf doesn't matter.