Texas ranked last in some health metrics

Like many states in these financially tough times, Texas has both a budget crisis and a humanitarian crisis on its hands. The same economic forces that are pressuring it to cut social services are also squeezing families, thus creating more demand for those services. Simply put, Texas families are suffering–physically, even, as new data shows.

As Voices member Texans Care for Children pointed out last week, that state suffers the worst rate of child obesity for girls (with Mississippi worst overall). The cost of obesity to Texas businesses has been estimated at $3 billion a year, which climbs to nearly $16 billion if we do nothing. Texas officials now must find the political courage to make long-term decisions for the health of our children, despite a budget shortfall.

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