Healthy Lifestyle

• The facts
• Our activities
• Other resources

The numbers

• A lifestyle characterized by physical inactivity and poor dietary habits is a leading cause of premature and unnecessary death in America, second only to tobacco use.
  


• Five out of eight Texas adults are overweight (Body Mass Index > 25) or obese (BMI > 30).
  


• The obesity rate among Texas adults grew by 100% between 1990 and 2002.
  


• Only one in four Texans participates in the recommended amount of physical activity.
  


• Lack of fitness costs Texas taxpayers and businesses $10 billion a year, due to higher use of the healthcare system and lost productivity within the workplace.
  


• There are many obesity-related conditions which mostly or uniquely affect women, such as breast and endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, gallbladder disease, birth defects and infertility, obstetric and gynecological complications, urinary stress incontinence and arthritis.
  


• Overweight and obesity result from an energy imbalance - too many calories and too little physical activity.
  


• Body weight is the result of genes, metabolism, behavior, environment, culture and socioeconomic status.
  


• Behavior and environment play key roles in causing people to be overweight and obese; they are also the greatest areas for prevention and treatment actions.

According to a National Weight Control Registry survey of people who lost 30 pounds or more, and kept it off for a year or more:

• 89% changed their diets and increased their physical activity.
  


• Almost 88% limited some type or class of food, like especially high-fat or high-sugar foods).
  


• 77% said a medical or emotional event triggered their weight loss.
  


• 55% used a formal program (like Weight Watchers) or professional assistance (from a medical doctor or therapist, etc.).
  


• 85% said their weight loss has improved their physical health, energy level, quality of life, physical mobility, overall mood and self-confidence.

Sources: American Obesity Association; Texas Department of Health; Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Texas Office of the Governor; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General; National Weight Control Registry.

Taking action

The Governor's Commission for Women is collaborating with Governor Perry's Texas Round-Up to gather some of the state's best heart-healthy recipes for the premier Fit for Eating recipe book. A total of 20 unique, original recipes will be included in the project, and some will also be made available via the Texas Round-Up website and through printed promotional materials, with credit given to the authors. Deadline for entries is January 26, 2007. For more information, click here or call 512.378.0012.

The Governor's Commission for Women is extremely supportive of Governor Perry's Texas Round-Up initiative. The statewide health and fitness program includes an online activity training program; a Texas Round-Up 10K run and festival; and a challenge from the Governor designed to encourage all Texas communities to participate.

Related resources

• Texas Round-Up
  The Texas Round-Up is a statewide initiative launched by Governor Rick Perry to encourage all Texans to incorporate daily physical activity and healthy choices into their lives.
  www.texasroundup.org
  


• Healthy People 2010
  Healthy People is a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative to improve the health of all Americans, eliminate disparities in health, and improve years and quality of healthy life.
  www.healthypeople.gov
  


• Nutrition & Physical Activity
  A website from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, dedicated to promoting healthy living.
  www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/index.htm
  


• National Women's Health Information Center
  Women's health information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  www.4woman.gov
  


• Healthopedia.com
  Healthopedia.com is a health and medical resource for consumer information, in patient-friendly terms, on over 1,500 health topics, 70 focused health centers and more than 11,000 medications.
  www.healthopedia.com
  


• Healthy Lifestyles & Disease Prevention Campaign
  A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program intended to help Americans make small dietary and activity changes to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
  www.smallstep.gov
  


• 5 A Day for Better Health
  The national 5 A Day Program is a unique public-private partnership led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its objective is to increase Americans’ fruit and vegetable consumption, and to support initiatives to provide education and improve access to fruits and vegetables.
  www.5aday.gov
  


• Eat 5 to 9 a Day: Women aim for 7
  A website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, featuring why women should and how women can eat the government-recommended seven fruits and vegetables a day.
  app1-ws1b-2.nci.nih.gov/7aday/index.html
  


• Interactive Menu Planner
  Useful tool from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
  hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/menuplanner
  


• Body Mass Index calculator
  Useful tool from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
  www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm
  


• American Obesity Association
  The American Obesity Association is working to change public policy and perceptions about obesity by recognizing obesity as a complex disease involving more than personal behavior.
  www.obesity.org
  


• National Association for Health & Fitness: The network of state & governor's councils
  The National Association for Health and Fitness is a nonprofit organization working to improve the quality of life for Americans through the promotion of physical fitness, sports and healthy lifestyles.
  www.physicalfitness.org
  


• National Women's Health Resource Center
  The National Women's Health Resource Center is a nonprofit organization working to help women make informed decisions about their health, and to encourage women to embrace healthy lifestyles.
  www.healthywomen.org
  


• Shape Up America
  Shape Up America is a nonprofit organization working to help Americans achieve healthy weight for life.
  www.shapeup.org
  


• TV-Turnoff Network
  The TV-Turnoff Network is a national nonprofit organization working to encourage children and adults to watch much less television, in order to promote healthier lives and communities.
  www.tvturnoff.org
  


• womenfitness.net
  A guide to achieving healthy weight loss and optimum fitness.
  www.womenfitness.net
  


• Center for Research on Women With Disabilities
  A clearinghouse for information about the health and wellness of women with disabilities, led by the Baylor College of Medicine.
  www.bcm.edu/crowd