5 Texas Cities Top Magazine's Fat List

Texas is one of the biggest states in the nation -- not just in terms of land size, but waistlines too. According to a new report released by Men's Health magazine, five of the top 10 fattest cities in the nation are right here in Texas.

Corpus Christ tops the list, with El Paso coming in at number 3, Dallas closely follows at number 4, San Antonio at ranks number 7 and Houston at number 9.

However, there is some good news: Austin ranks as one of the nation's fittest cities. The magazine gave the city an A. Other fit cities include San Francisco, Ca., Seattle, Wa., Burlington Vt. and Washington, D.C.

Researchers at the magazine say they came up with their rankings by calculating the percentage of "people who are overweight, the percentage with type 2 diabetes, the percentage who haven't left the couch in a month, the amount of money spent on junk food and the number of people who ate fast food nine or more times per month."

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, overweight citizens are at a "higher risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and other serious medical condtions."

They go on to say the economic costs associated with obesity is increasing. This year, costs associated with excess weight in Texas are expected to reach $15.6 billion dollars in Texas alone. That's up from $10.5 billion in 2001. That number could skyrocket to $39 billion by 2040. Included in these numbers are direct healthcare costs, such as hospital stays and medicine, as well as indirect costs, like lost productivity and wages due to illness and death.

Texas is working to cut calories and whittle waistlines. Last year state senator Eliot Shapleigh introduced a bill to ban trans fat in Texas restaurants. These fats are known to raise bad cholestorol and increase the risk of stroke and type 2 diabetes. Many local establishments have already banned trans fats from their menus.

Dell Children's Hospital is working to keep kids fit. They created the Texas Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity to address the childhood obesity epidemic.

According to it's website, 35 percent of students grade 3 through 12 are overweight in AISD. The center plans to "incorporate multi-disciplinary prevention and intervention methods to help children and adolescents overcome obesity."