May 25, 2013

Weather

Light Rain and Breezy

66°
Conditions at North Texas Regional Airport, TX
Save Email Print Bookmark and Share
A A

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.

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.


Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
powered by Disqus

WebMD Health News

AP Top Health Stories

  • FDA warns of infections tied to Tennessee pharmacy
    WASHINGTON (AP) — Health officials are investigating cases involving patients who suffered complications after being injected with potentially contaminated medications made by a Tennessee specialty pharmacy.
  • Report: Nation's kids need to get more physical

    FILE - This May 10, 2011 file photo shows children at Tracy Elementary School running across a field as they take part in after-school exercise activities on the campus in Baldwin Park, Calif. Reading, writing, `rithmetic _ and PE? The prestigious Institute of Medicine is recommending that schools provide opportunities for at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day for students and treat physical education as a core subject. The report says only about half of the nation's youngsters are getting at least an hour of vigorous or moderate physical activity every day. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — Reading, writing, arithmetic — and PE?


  • Hobby Lobby tests birth-control coverage mandate

    Customers are seen at a Hobby Lobby store in Denver on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. A challenge to the federal health care law faces its most prominent test yet in a full 10th Circuit hearing in Denver on Thursday. Hobby Lobby stores is challenging a federal mandate requiring it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morining-after birth control pill. The Oklahoma based arts and crafts chain says the mandate violates the religious beliefs of its owners. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)DENVER (AP) — In the most prominent challenge of its kind, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. asked a federal appeals court Thursday for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill.


  • Federal agency accepts Nevada hospital's plan to curb patient-dumping
    By Ronnie Cohen (Reuters) - Federal authorities approved a Nevada hospital's proposal on Friday for correcting deficiencies that led to newly discharged psychiatric patients being bused out of state without adequate plans for continued care. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also said it would conduct unannounced inspections of Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas to ensure that procedures are in place and working to prevent further instances of so-called patient dumping. ...
  • If You Work for Yourself, What Will Obamacare Mean for You?
    When she was 32, Wendy Drabick opened her own IT and accounting consulting business and started paying health insurance premiums for herself and her family, now a hefty $1,100 every month. That’s about $10,000 more each year than she’d be paying if she worked for a large employer who paid most of the premium. Drabick isn’t complaining, but she would like to know if her premium will go up under the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare), and if so, how much. Nearly all Americans will need dto have coverage, many through state marketplaces, beginning January 1, 2014.