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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Obesity is a serious public health concern in the |
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| 6 | 7 | | United States, where more than 42 percent of all adults qualify as |
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| 7 | 8 | | obese and the number of people with severe obesity continues to |
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| 8 | 9 | | grow; in the State of Texas, the adult obesity rate is 34 percent; |
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| 9 | 10 | | and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Experts and researchers agree that obesity is a |
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| 11 | 12 | | complex disease that is influenced by a variety of physiological, |
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| 12 | 13 | | environmental, and genetic factors; those affected by the disease |
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| 13 | 14 | | are at higher risk of developing many other health conditions, |
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| 14 | 15 | | including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular |
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| 15 | 16 | | disease, stroke, and some types of cancer; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, While prevention programs have successfully |
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| 17 | 18 | | established the seriousness of the public health crisis posed by |
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| 18 | 19 | | obesity, it is also imperative that individuals and families with |
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| 19 | 20 | | the disease receive comprehensive care and treatment; research |
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| 20 | 21 | | suggests that losing as little as five to ten percent of total body |
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| 21 | 22 | | weight can mitigate the health risks of obesity, but studies also |
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| 22 | 23 | | show that the bias and stigma associated with the disease are |
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| 23 | 24 | | significant barriers to effective treatment; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Health care professionals, policy makers, patients, |
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| 25 | 26 | | and families should regard obesity with the same level of |
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| 26 | 27 | | importance as other chronic diseases; further, obese patients |
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| 27 | 28 | | should be treated with respect and compassion and should be |
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| 28 | 29 | | provided with assistance in exploring options for weight loss and |
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| 29 | 30 | | weight management, including reduced-calorie diets, physical |
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| 30 | 31 | | activity, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Improving the treatment of obesity will require |
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| 32 | 33 | | concerted action on a number of levels, and the observance of |
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| 33 | 34 | | Obesity Care Week, which takes place from February 28 to March 6, |
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| 34 | 35 | | 2021, serves to highlight the urgency of this public health issue |
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| 35 | 36 | | and the need to implement a patient-centered, research-driven model |
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| 36 | 37 | | of care; now, therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 38 | 39 | | Legislature hereby recognize February 28 to March 6, 2021, as |
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| 39 | 40 | | Obesity Care Week in Texas and encourage all residents of the Lone |
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| 40 | 41 | | Star State to learn more about lifestyle habits that can lead to |
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| 41 | 42 | | better health. |
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