The conclusion from the latest research is inescapable: Too many of our Texas children weigh far too much. This issue is one we must take very seriously. The reason is that unless some of these extra pounds come off a growing number of young people will be facing greatly increased risks for health problems that could impact them for life. At the top of the list is developing Type 2 diabetes.


How bad is the problem? Let me share with you some statistics from a study performed by the University Of Texas School Of Public Health that was presented to legislators earlier this summer. The School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey was conducted between 2000 through 2002 and used a sampling of 15,213 students from the 4th, 8th, and 11th grades. The study compiled body mass index (BMI) measurements based upon the student's height and weight and also gathered demographic data.


The survey’s conclusion was that number of overweight school children in the Lone Star State was far greater than the average for the rest of the United States. The number of heavy Texas 4th graders was a stunning 68 percent higher than for our nation as a whole (25.7 percent vs. 15.3 percent). In the 2001-2002 school-year more than 35 percent of Hispanic boys in the 4th grade were determined to be too heavy.


Jump to the 8th grade and Texas kids are still above average, but not in a way any of us wants them to be. Our 8th graders are overweight at a rate 22 percent above the rest of the nation (18.8 percent vs. 15.3).


The number of overweight children also appears to be steadily growing with each passing year. For example, in the 2000-2001 school-year survey, the number of heavy kids in the 4th grade was pegged at 22.4 percent. Jump to 2001-2002 and the percentage rises to 29 percent -- which amounts to more than a 25 percent increase.


Looking at demographics, Hispanic males had the highest rates of being overweight, followed by Hispanic females. Next on the list of was African-American females.


The survey also offered some illuminative statistics on which regions of the state faced the biggest challenges. For example, the location of greatest concern for 4th graders was Texas Public Health Region 8, which covers the San Antonio and Laredo area. The border regions to the north and south (El Paso and Brownsville) followed closely behind. The Houston area (Region 5) is another region showcasing notably undesirable student weight trends.


One item of clear concern to researchers is the growing numbers of Texas children whose BMI was already over 40, which is considered to be indicative of extreme obesity.


Looking at the 11th grade, for example, 6.1 percent of African-American girls already had a BMI greater than 40. Add together the African-American boys and girls from the same grade and the 40+ BMI score was 5.8 percent.


Alarming statistics like these are the reason why Texas’ statewide elected officials and the Legislature have developed such a keen interest in what our kids eat in school and whether they are allowed to burn off some extra calories during a recess. Helping to slim down our young people to healthier weights may be the most challenging public health issue facing our state today.


I know we Texans hate to lose at anything, but when it comes to the excess weight on our school kids -- I would like to see us become the nation's biggest losers!