A Word from Dr. Kenneth Cooper
Texans urged to follow kids' lead; shed "fattest" label
Like all Texans, I'm deeply proud of my state and the countless areas in which
we enjoy number-one status. Unfortunately, not all of our superlatives are positive.
For example, in a recent survey by a national health magazine four Texas cities
ranked among the nation's 10 "fattest," based on obesity rates and other
indicators of poor health.
With this sobering information as background, I applaud the State Board of Education for its decision to reinstate physical education in public schools. Starting the physical-fitness habit early in life is crucial, and encouraging people to maintain healthy lifestyles at all ages has been the primary driving force of my career.
If we're to realize the ideal of lifelong wellness, we first need to understand how the human body changes over time, and how these changes dictate appropriate exercise and nutrition practices. Governor Rick Perry shares these convictions, which he strongly articulated during the recent Governor's Challenge Walk for Wellness in Austin. More than 1,000 state employees turned out for this official launch of the statewide "Texercise" fitness-promotion campaign.
Texercise was created by the Texas Department on Aging (TDoA) [now the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services] to raise awareness of how an active lifestyle, good nutrition and preventive health care can slow--even reverse--many negative effects of inactivity. With our school kids now leading the way, it's time for adults from 18 to 80 and beyond to join them in Texas' journey from fattest to fittest. So my message today is primarily aimed at the grownups who are the major role models for young Texans, and who owe them nothing less than the best possible example.
When the Texas Legislature charged TDoA with preparing our state for the aging of its population, the agency wisely chose to focus not only on individual well-being but also Texas' economic health. Health care expenses related to cardiovascular disease and stroke reached an estimated $9 billion last year, and they are expected to keep increasing as more Texans reach the age of highest risk for these health problems.
Research has shown that these conditions, both of which are related to physical inactivity, remain the number one and number three causes of death in Texas. Together they account for nearly half of all deaths in our state. By combating high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle, we can realize tremendous savings in state and federal health care costs.
At the most fundamental level, though, good health remains a personal issue. How much exercise is required to make a meaningful difference in how we feel and look? Less than one might think. There's no need for exotic equipment, gym memberships, or expensive special gear. All it takes is a belief in one's own potential and the desire to embrace life more fully. The Texas Department on Aging is ready and able to help us get started. Information on Texercise, along with other information, resources, and supports for living a healthy life, can be found through the links listed below, as well as the official Texercise site.
With the year is still young and most of our New Year's resolutions still in effect, why not apply our willpower to something even more meaningful: a new life resolution built upon a foundation of personal health and fitness? Disease and disability do not automatically come with age. And there is no reason why Texas shouldn't be an example of the best possible health and wellness practices, not the worst.
As Gov. Rick Perry told participants in the Walk for Wellness, the time has come to put down our remote controls, get off the couch, and start moving again.
Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H. is the founder of the Cooper Aerobics Center and the author of numerous best-selling books on the subject of physical fitness for people of all ages. He serves as honorary state chairman of the Texercise Program.
Updated: December 8, 2011