Houston dubbed "the fattest city" by Men's Fitness
by Tia Woods
UHCLIDIAN Staff

For the second year in a row, Men's Fitness magazine has named Houston the fattest city in America.

Other Texas cities in the top 10 are Dallas, San Antonio and Fort Worth.

According to Menšs Fitness findings, more than 27 percent of the American population engages in no physical activity. Instead, Americans' food intake exceeds their physical activity level, contributing to the 61 percent obesity ratio.

Men's Fitness evaluated the 50 largest cities in the United States

between July 2001 and September 2001 for the report in its January 2002 issue. Data specific to each city in 16 categories were generated to aid in the evaluation. The categories included areas of environmental risk that would hinder physical activity. Nutritional habits, climate and weather conditions, air and water quality, sports participation, volume of smoking and drinking, length of commute to work, availability of parks or open spaces and percentage of overweight residents were some of the categories used in determining the findings.

Because of its higher-than-average TV viewing rate and lower-than-average exercise rate, Houston remains at the top of the charts as the flabbiest city. The magazine also considered Houston's ranking as the fourth-worst commute in the United States, which adds to personal stress levels and the intake of poor air quality.

Asked if he agreed with the Menšs Fitness article, Dr. Terry Dupler, associate professor, fitness and human performance at UH-Clear Lake said, "Good Question! I do not know for a 'statistical fact' that we are the fattest city. I do know that we are a fairly "unhealthy" city. That probably would have been a better title for their article. Since they used several factors to arrive at the classification, not just the population's body composition (i.e., fatness), I'm hesitant to say we have the population with the most body fat. However, if something like this will make a large portion of Houston's population change their habits, then ultimately it was not such a bad thing."

Local businesses, including health and fitness clubs, radio and TV stations, and eating establishments, are working together to transform Houston from the fattest city to the fittest city. However, most of the program incentives offered are measured on a short time frame, so the actuality that individuals will keep the weight off is slim.

"There is no quick fix. It takes time to get into the current health status, therefore it will take time to improve current health habits," said Julie Dial, disease management coordinator and exercise physiologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dial said that exercise is essential in maintaining a healthy heart.

"Our heart is a muscle that has to be worked to achieve cardiovascular benefits," Dial said. "Increasing metabolism is one key to burning fat and losing weight. Muscle mass through body weight exercises such as push-ups, wall-squats, or using weight machines or free weights is vital for increasing energy metabolism, burning fat more efficiently through the system." To obtain optimal fitness results, Dial recommends a physician's approval prior to beginning any exercise program.

"It is really important to individualize and not 'can' an exercise program," Dial said, who added that people can obtain the best results by consulting an exercise physiologist and possibly a registered dietitian who will structure a program based on their individual needs.

In addition to seeking professional assistance, Dial suggests a combination of "structured" or "unstructured" exercise.

Structured exercise may include aerobic classes, kickboxing, walking, biking, swimming, inline skating, jogging, or using elliptical machines. Unstructured exercise includes mowing the lawn, washing the car, walking the dog, pushing children in a stroller, and using stairs instead of elevators.

Concurring with Dial's recommendation, Dupler added that "increased physical activity needs to be established before changing a diet regimen too much. However, in the beginning don't try and change both diet and physical activity at the same time."