Texas Obesity Awareness Week Lunch & Learn 2022

 Partnership for a Healthy Texas and the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living presented a health policy briefing as part of Texas Obesity Awareness Week. The focus of this health policy briefing was to provide data-driven information and facts on obesity in Texas to state legislators as they prepare their health policy priorities for the 2023 legislative session. 

 Texas Obesity Awareness Week (TOAW) was established in the 80th Legislative Session by House Bill 2313 and is designated to occur in the second full week of September each year. The purpose of the week is to raise awareness of the health risks associated with obesity and to encourage Texans to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. From 2008 - 2019, TOAW consisted of several events statewide and was highlighted by the Texas Health Champion Award Ceremony hosted by the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Austin and the Live Smart Texas Coalition.

 This session included:

 SPANning Childhood Obesity and Obesity-Related Behaviors in Texas – Deanna Hoelscher, PhD, RDN, LD, CNS, FISBNPA

 Review of the basics on child obesity along with recent data on obesity and obesity-related behaviors from Texas.

 'Covibesity’ - The impact of the pandemic on obesogenic behaviors among adults - Gregory Knell, Ph.D.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdowns spurred significant disruptions to everyday life for adults worldwide. Data suggest that many adults gained body weight during lockdowns which can have serious long-term health implications related to SARS CoV2 infection and otherwise. The reasons behind the observed weight gain among adults during the heights of the pandemic and lockdowns will be reviewed, including disruptions to routines in eating behaviors and physical activity and exercise. Potential long-term health implications of ‘covibesity’ will be discussed along with strategies to mitigate the effects long-term.

Introduction and Q&A Moderation - Dr. David Lakey, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and the Chief Medical Officer for the University of Texas System, Chair of the Partnership for a Healthy Texas