Obesity
Join 16 Southern States as they convene the Fourth Annual Southern Obesity Summit, September 12-14th in Atlanta, Georgia.
Southern States Reach Obesity Crisis Levels -
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest data indicates Southern States as the most
obese in the nation. These rankings showed all but one Southern state being in the top ten states
with the highest rates of obesity, each having more than 25% of adults as obese.
The CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ranked Mississippi as the fattest state for the
third year in a row, joined by West Virginia and Louisiana as second and third fattest states. For these
southern communities and the others whose obese populations continue to increase, obesity
awareness and prevention, particularly among children, must take begin immediately.
Regional Strategies Prove Effective -
While national strategies will have an impact on obesity prevention efforts in the South, it is essential
to provide intervention strategies and policy options which build on existing and promising practices at
both the regional and community levels. The Southern Obesity Summit in 2008 proved that there are
no other vehicles to assemble regional stakeholders to share and develop sustainable community
solutions.
The annual Southern Obesity Summit serves as the primary vehicle for identifying, collecting, and
disseminating the evidence-based and emerging practices within the obesity prevention field in the
South and ultimately strengthening our capacity to respond to the obesity challenge.
Participating states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and
New Mexico.
Participants will engage in real-time information exchange and networking among State Teams in the
process of creating a Southern Strategy to address obesity. The Summit celebrates and publicizes
effective and emerging childhood obesity prevention and reduction practices in the region. Partici-
pants also have opportunities to present their State Team successes over the previous year.
Registration Now Open - Visit www.southernobesitysummit.org
Obesity in Texas -- Where we Are:
More than 1/3 of Texas school-age children are overweight or at risk for becoming overweight.
One in five Texans are obese.
Overweight and obesity cost the state about $10.5 billion in 2001 and these costs are projected to reach $40 billion by 2040.
"Obesity is among the most serious health challenges facing Texas. Obesity contributes to cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and mental health problems."
– Vince Fonseca, MD, MPH, State Epidemiologist, Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas Health Institute Initiatives:
• Partnership for a Healthy Texas
• Live Smart Texas
• Southern Obesity Summit
• Texas Action for Healthy Kids
Policy Briefs/Publications:
NEW BROCHURE! Obesity In Texas: Reaching Epidemic Proportions
NEW! Obesity Projections Summary
NEW! Obesity Projections By County
Obesity Legislative Priorities ; Obesity in Texas: Policy Implications ; Nutrition and Fitness in Texas Schools
Resources/Links:
Texas! Bringing Healthy Back Presents Growing Communities: Watch The Videos.
If you would like more information, please contact Klaus Madsen at 512-279-3905 or email Klaus .