Obesity rate in Knox County higher than state average
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From Dietspotlight—
A study provided by Dietspotlight shows that obesity affects over 40% of Americans.
Obesity is linked to many detrimental health effects, including increased risk of heart attack or stroke, morbidity, and developing type two diabetes. Nationwide, obesity-related healthcare costs are nearly $150 billion. The cost of lost productivity due to obesity is more than $6 billion.
Two-thirds of Texans are either overweight or obese, according to the study. Thirty-four percent of Texas adults are obese, and another 32 percent are overweight. Obesity accounts for 27 percent of all healthcare spending. It costs 37 percent more to treat an obese individual than one with a healthy weight. However, even more severe than the financial price is the lost years of life due to obesity. Those who are overweight or obese have a lifespan 3 to 20 years shorter than healthy individuals, according to dietspotlight.
Looking at data from Knox County, dietspotlight’s study showed that on average:
- Men weigh 270 pounds and score a BMI, or body mass index, of 38.7. BMI is a measurement of fat with any score over 30 considered obese.
- Women weigh 260 pounds and score a BMI of 47.6. That score places women in the severely obese category.
This means the average resident needs to lose more than 120 pounds to reach a healthy weight and BMI. That’s 99 percent higher than the state average of 62 pounds and 108 percent higher than the national average of 59 pounds, according to dietspotlight.
The Square Meals Program works with schools, foodservice professionals, children and parents to provide healthy and nutritious meals to school children. The program was designed by the Texas Department of Agriculture, which states that schools provide 60 percent of meals to students, putting them in an excellent position to prevent obesity.
The Texas Department of State Health Services has created an Obesity Prevention Program that includes nutrition strategies, physical activity and training for anyone interested in promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Considering obesity from a different angle, employers have a significant impact on the health of their employees, so one aspect of the Texas Obesity Prevention Program is the Worksite Wellness Program. The program works with employers to promote healthy eating, physical activity, stress management, and preventive screenings.
In the press release, Dietspotlight said it has worked to provide well-researched weight-loss resources to men and women globally for more than a decade.
All weight and related measurements were collected voluntarily from website visitors. Data is held anonymously for the protection of the reader. Research on Dietspotlight is reviewed for relevance and accuracy by a dedicated team of professionals that includes doctors, nutritionists, and registered dietitians.
