Week 4 Ass 1 One of the health concerns in Houston is obesity; Obesity is a significant problem in Houston and the city received a national recognition in regards to this situation when Men’s Fitness Magazine ranked it as the fattest city in the United States. In 2009, “nearly 66.8 percent of Texas adults were either overweight or obese. According to the Office of Minority Health, 78 percent of Hispanic women are obese compared to 60.3 percent for Whites. Even among U.S. children, in 2009-2010, Mexican American children were 1.6 times more likely to be overweight than Whites” (HDHHS, 2012). Obesity occurs in all ages in Houston. “Obesity rate in Houston is 29.9% compared to the national average of 35.7%. The diabetes rate in Houston is 11.4% compared to the national average of 9.0 %”(HDHHS, 2012). According to (HDHHS, 2012) Houston high school students are also heavier than students in the general population: 34.4% in Houston compared to 28.8% in the U.S. population. Among these youth, only 17.1% consumed five fruit/vegetable servings daily. The most important resources available are education via media, implement physical activities in all school curriculums, using Farmers Market Programs designed to combat obesity through improved nutrition. The program will bring fresh fruits and vegetables to Houston communities that are underserved by grocery stores and other fresh food outlets; the program also collaborates with Urban Harvest, local farmers, local community advisory councils, to bring free fruits and vegetables to target communities and the schools in their surrounding. The target communities include greater fifth ward, Magnolia Park, and Sunnyside; these communities have populations made up primarily of minority groups, with many children, high unemployment rate, and a large percentage of people who live below the poverty level. Another strategy in place to reduce the mortality and morbidity of obesity by HDHHS is nutrition projects which include building of eleven community gardens across the city (which is in progress at present), health education and case management for students with the Houston Independent Schools; building 17 sites for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program in target communities; Meals-on-Wheels for seniors which will include fresh foods/vegetables and many community educational activities in health care clinics. The Texas Legislature’s 80th Session passed Senate Bill 556. The act was to create a group that monitors and evaluates obesity prevention efforts in the state of Texas for both children and adults. The Houston environment and city’s layout could make it harder for Houstonians to stay healthy due to the fact that the city is wide spread and almost every citizen own a car, has to commute from point A to b in their private cars which in turn does not make citizens participate in much physical activity unless it’s a personal choice. Another contributing factor is the fact that fast food restaurants are easily accessed and there are a lot of them around every corner/block, vending machines containing snacks that are high in calories and sugar are located almost everywhere including: Schools, malls, clinics, stores, fitness places, Doctor’s office, etc. Education and re-enforcement about healthy food choices is what we need to reduce the obesity problem in the city of Houston, and in order to achieve this goal, Legislators need to come up with a law that restricts having vending machines in all public place or make it mandatory for fast food vendors/restaurants to have lists of calories beside their food menus.
References
Texas Department of Human and Health Services.