Oklahoma City Ranked One of America’s Fattest Cities
Published Date: February 2008
Obesity is an enormous health problem in Oklahoma. Studies show that about
1.5 million adults are overweight, and of those, 500,000 are obese. Even more
alarming is the fact that our students have a high prevalence of obesity as
well. About 15 percent of Oklahoma’s teenagers are considered to be severely
overweight or obese.
Many health problems are associated with obesity including heart disease,
hypertension, liver disease, certain cancers, asthma, sleep apnea, and diabetes.
All of these conditions put a huge strain on our health care system and our
economy. Overall, the U.S. spends more than $120 billion on direct and indirect
costs related to obesity.
When Oklahoma’s official state meal consists of fried okra, squash,
cornbread, barbecue pork, biscuits, sausage and gravy, grits, corn,
strawberries, chicken fried steak, pecan pie, and black-eyed peas, it’s no
wonder obesity is a problem in our state.
Oklahoma City Ranks 15th
In 2007, Men's Fitness magazine conducted a survey to determine America’s
fattest cities. The survey examined lifestyle factors in each city, including
fast-food restaurants per capita and availability of city parks, gyms and bike
paths.
Oklahoma City was ranked 15th in the survey’s list of the Top 25 Fattest
Cities. This ranking disturbed Mayor Cornett so much that he decided to launch a
weight-loss challenge to Oklahoma City residents. He is challenging the
community to lose 1 million pounds as a New Year’s resolution.
Mayor Cornett hopes to end Oklahoma City’s high ranking as one of America’s
fattest cities while promoting health and wellness for all Oklahomans. The goal
of the initiative is to motivate Oklahoma City residents to exercise more and
watch what they eat.
The mayor is also working on increasing the number of bike trails and
sidewalks in the city to encourage residents to spend more time outdoors biking,
walking, and running instead of sitting on the couch watching TV.
As part of the initiative, residents can track their weight loss on a new
website at
www.thiscityisgoingonadiet.com. The website contains valuable information on
proper nutrition and exercise. There is a body mass index calculator, recipes,
links to local fitness centers, and much more.
Tulsa’s Turnaround
In 2005, the City of Tulsa was ranked 22nd in the magazines Top 25 Fattest
Cities. Then Mayor LaFortune took this ranking as a warning sign and launched a
health and wellness campaign for the city, and the results were amazing. In the
most recent survey, Tulsa was ranked 13th in the magazine’s list of the Top 25
Fittest Cities.
The Tulsa program, called the Mayor’s Fitness Challenge (MFC), is now under
the administration of Mayor Kathy Taylor. It is a long-term program that
encourages Tulsa residents to get fit and healthy for life. The program’s goal
is “to create a healthier state, where residents choose to change and improve
their fitness, and nutritional habits in order to lead overall healthier
lifestyles.” The program challenges the residents of Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and
surrounding cities to get fit and healthy.
The program also partners with local hospitals, not-for-profit governmental
entities, fitness centers, and health food stores to help get Tulsan’s fit and
healthy.
The MFC website,
www.mayorsfitnesschallenge.com, provides health and fitness information,
dates of local runs and marathons, upcoming wellness events, nutritional
information, and much, much more.
Although the mayors of Oklahoma City and Tulsa have different ideas on how to
conquer obesity problems in Oklahoma, they are both working towards the same
goal—to make Oklahoma a healthier state. Let’s hope that mayors across Oklahoma
will also take up the challenge!
Sources: OKC Million, the Mayors’ Fitness Challenge, and newsok.com
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