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DIABETES AND
OBESITY

THE CONTINUING WAR

ON A METABOLIC CRISIS

IN BEXAR COUNTY

The need for continued promotion of lifestyle changes
in metabolic syndrome

By Jacob Vadakekalam, MD and Nicole Sanders, FNP-C

T he obesity epidemic has spread across the nation with times per week and nearly 50 percent had been diagnosed with di-

abetes (Sahini, Wu and bhatka, 2016). Thus, recent data indicates
Texas holding rank as the 8th most obese in the U.S. Over
33.7 percent of Texans are considered obese compared to
just 10.7 percent in 1990. The association between obesity and dia- the incidence of obesity in bexar County continues to rise rather
than decrease as we had hoped. Some contributing factors of obe-
betes is well recognized, and the effects of lifestyle changes in im- sity run the gamut from behavior, sedentary lifestyle, food, lack of
proving outcomes of both is also well recognized. but despite our education, as well as community and social environments. Thus, be-
continued public health education efforts, the percentage of over- havior along with lifestyle modification should be addressed and is
weight and obese adults in bexar County alone exceeded 65 percent integral in sustained weight loss and improved outcomes.
of the adult population (CdC, 2013). Some clinical consequences of obesity include: increased mortal-
department of State Health Services data from 2015 reveals that ity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, gall-
less than 30 percent of obese Texans participate in leisure time bladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, increased risk of some
physical activity, 36 percent ate at fast food restaurants two or more cancers, low quality of life, depression, anxiety, joint pain and limited

12 San Antonio Medicine • December 2018