YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Texas, U.S. waistlines are growing

By Gene Hall

It’s somehow appropriate to talk about gaining weight just a few days after Thanksgiving when a lot of us overindulged.

A new analysis from the WalletHub Institute confirms what most already knew. Seven in 10 U.S. adults are either overweight or obese.

The data was obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and others.

Twenty-five metrics were analyzed, including servings of fruits and vegetables and trips to fast food restaurants.

Of course, the size of our waistlines leads to a range of other health problems.

Texas is the tenth fattest state overall but second in overweight children.

Losing weight and keeping it off is a challenge for most of us. There are no magic bullets. The key is eating more fruits and vegetables, reasonable portions of meat and bread, while eating less overall. Exercise still makes a difference, too.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

You may read this week’s editorial above or listen to the audio version.

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