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BROWNSVILLE — The diets of the indigenous people of the Valley were vastly different than today and that genetic component plays heavily into to region, which has one of the highest rates of obesity in the country.
“For our population down here there’s likely a strong genetic component for those of us who are descendants of the populations who are indigenous to the Americas,” said Dr. Christopher Romero, health authority for the city of Brownsville Health and Wellness Department.
“The environment that we live in now is just so foreign to what we are metabolically programmed to exist in,” Romero said. “The access to highly calorically dense foods that are readily available, plus the lack of physical activity is a dangerous mix.”
The Valley has one of the highest obesity rates in the United States.
An article just released by the Associated Press stressed that obesity is high and holding steady in the United States, but the proportion of those with severe obesity — especially women — has climbed within the last decade.
The U.S. obesity rate is about 40%, according to a 2021-2023 survey of about 6,000 people, said the article. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly one in 10 of those surveyed reported severe obesity.
Romero said problem isn’t just limited to the United States.
“Rates of obesity are rising across the globe in primarily industrialized developed countries,” Romero said. “In America, over 70% of the population is now overweight or obese. Unfortunately, a large percentage of our population here in the Rio Grande Valley suffers from that same affliction.”
The Valley has seen increased interest in fitness. Marathons, bike-a-thons, triathlons and other events have become popular, and Valley residents are making them part of their exercise regimen.
However, the increase in obesity reflects the occurrence of those who have been obese for many years.
“It’s just a long and sometimes arduous process to get to that stage of health especially if somebody has become obese,” Romero said. “Not that it’s impossible, but it usually does take a multi-modal approach to get back to a healthy weight and body composition.”
Anyone who has reached a dangerously high level of obesity should consult a physician about the proper way to deal with the situation. A number of medications are now available to assist in weight loss and of course there are surgical procedures.
The best way to maintain good health is doing at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday. A diet of fish, lean meats, fruits and vegetables also contributes to good health and a reduction in obesity.
