incidents of obesity have been on the rise in the state of Texas
Like the rest of the nation, incidents of obesity have also been on the rise in the state of Texas. The situation has arisen because of a reduction in people’s involvement in physical activities as well as poor diets that create conducive environments for the disease. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services [DSHS] (2020), as of 2018, the overall prevalence rate of the illness in the state was 34.8%. The statistics also highlight declining engagement in physical activity. For instance, the state’s overall prevalence of leisure time activity stood at 74.4%. The severity of the disease has also been on the rise. The Kaiser Family Foundation [KFF] (2020) contends that severe obesity in the state stands at 5.6% — it is measured based on a Basal Metabolic Index (BMI) that is higher than 40. The DSHS does not classify obesity as a direct cause of death. Nonetheless, mortality rates from other diseases comorbid with the illness might offer an insight into its adverse effects. Some of the common conditions that co-occur with obesity include heart disease, cancer, and stroke. According to the Centers for Disease & Prevention [CDC] (2020), these three ailments were the leading causes of death in the state in 2017.
The disease has considerable economic ramifications at the local level. A report by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts illustrated that the state lost an estimated $11 billion in 2011 to obesity. The cost included expenditures on healthcare and reduced productivity of the affected individuals in the workplace. The report estimated that by 2030, the total economic impact of the disease in Texas could amount to $32 billion by 2030. Consequently, relevant interventions must be established if this trend is to change.
References
Kaiser Family Foundation [KFF] (2020). Adults who report severe obesity. https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/adults-who-report-severe-obesity/?currentTimeframe=0&selectedRows=%7B%22states%22:%7B%22texas%22:%7B%7D%7D%7D&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D
Texas Department of State Health Services [DSHS] (2020). Obesity data. https://www.dshs.texas.gov/Obesity/Data/
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (2015). Economic Impact of Obesity in Texas. http://comptroller.texas.gov/specialrpt/obesitycost/
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention [CDC] (2020). Stats of the State of Texas. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/states/texas/texas.htm