Fat to Fit in Oklahoma

Did you read in today's Oklahoman the story about Oklahoma City and Tulsa being listed as two of the fattest cities in the US by Men's Fitness magazine? And Oklahoma City having twice as many donut shops per capita as the national average? The good news is that Oklahoma City went from 14th fattest last year to 21st fattest, and Tulsa from 19th fattest to 22nd fattest. The United Health Foundation also reports that Oklahoma is one of the four states with the biggest improvements in our population's health from 2003 to 2004. Central Oklahoma Turning Point is one of the organizations that is working to make a difference, and their website is worth a review. We Oklahomans have a long way to go but we have reason for optimism, too. The newly enacted tobacco tax , if previous studies are correct, will decrease teen smoking. The new river venues here in OKC and even the sidewalks of Bricktown encourage people in Oklahoma City to get out and walk. The tobacco tax money should help us bring healthcare to more of the uninsured, and will provide funds for a cancer center and trauma care. Things are looking up!