| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Representatives of Healthy Living Matters are |
|
|
visiting the State Capitol on March 27, 2013, and this occasion |
|
|
provides an ideal opportunity to honor the group for its efforts to |
|
|
curb childhood obesity in Harris County; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A public-private collaborative, Healthy Living |
|
|
Matters unites area leaders from a variety of sectors to formulate |
|
|
and promote policies that can bring about system and environmental |
|
|
changes that will have a positive impact on the well-being of young |
|
|
Texans; it was established in 2011 as a two-year initiative through |
|
|
a $2.5 million grant from the Houston Endowment to the Harris County |
|
|
Healthcare Alliance, and it is overseen by Harris County Public |
|
|
Health and Environmental Services; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Childhood obesity has more than doubled among |
|
|
children and tripled among adolescents in the United States over |
|
|
the past three decades; in Texas, more than a fifth of children |
|
|
suffer from obesity, which has both immediate and long-term effects |
|
|
on their health and well-being; obese youth are more likely to have |
|
|
risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and they are more prone to |
|
|
prediabetes, sleep apnea, and bone and joint problems, as well as |
|
|
social and psychological problems, such as stigmatization and poor |
|
|
self-esteem; moreover, children and adolescents who are obese are |
|
|
likely to remain obese as adults, heightening their susceptibility |
|
|
to a host of diseases; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In Harris County, parents trying to raise healthy |
|
|
children currently face a number of challenges; for instance, many |
|
|
neighborhoods lack safe, accessible places for youngsters to play |
|
|
and do not have grocery stores with a good selection of healthy |
|
|
foods; the members of Healthy Living Matters are working to |
|
|
identify and address obstacles to fitness and well-being in |
|
|
consultation with experts in such areas as child health, community |
|
|
planning, economic development, and the environment; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Childhood obesity is an increasingly serious |
|
|
problem in our society, but the members of Healthy Living Matters |
|
|
are committed to crafting policies that will make it easier for |
|
|
Harris County families to choose lifestyles that support wellness; |
|
|
now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby honor Healthy Living Matters for its noteworthy |
|
|
contributions and extend to the members sincere best wishes for |
|
|
success in their important work; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Healthy Living Matters as an expression of high regard |
|
|
by the Texas House of Representatives. |