The Cooper Institute and Texas On the Move

Texas on the Move and The Cooper Institute Challenge Texas
to Become the Healthiest State

DALLAS — According to statistics published by the Texas Department of State Health Services, 62 percent of Texas adults are overweight or obese and 35 percent of Texas school children are considered overweight or obese. To address this issue, Texas On the Move and The Cooper Institute are encouraging Texans to "get moving."

On Texas On the Move's Day of Action, Wednesday, September 28, 8 a.m., Councilman Ed Oakley; along with community leader Dr. Jill Waggoner; Rebecca Lucero, USDA Regional Administrator; and the St. Elizabeth third grade class will kick off a 2000-step walk at Kiest Park Recreation Center's Outdoor Track (3080 S. Hampton, Dallas). Texas On the Move and The Cooper Institute's Oak Cliff Center, with the USDA Southwest Region Food and Nutrition Service and the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department is encouraging the Oak Cliff community to get "On the Move" in honor of the Texas On the Move Day of Action. The USDA's Power Panther and Texas On the Move's L'il Tex mascot will also be there to help with a warm up, encourage walkers and to teach interested participants the Texas Two Step.

"This event will be a fun way to raise awareness about how the community can use our program to overcome the obesity epidemic," said Claire Avant, affiliate coordinator of Texas On the Move. "Anyone can do the Texas On the Move Two Step: Move More and Eat Smart."

Texas On the Move, the local affiliate of America On the Move, hopes Texans will make two small changes to help Texas be named the Healthiest State. Texans can register to take the pledge to take an extra 2,000 steps (about one mile) and eat 100 fewer calories on the Day of Action (Sept. 28). All Texans who pledge become eligible to win prizes, including resort stays and American Express and Foot Locker gift cards by registering online at www.americaonthemove.org.

America On the Move is a national initiative dedicated to helping individuals and communities across our nation make positive changes to improve health and quality of life. The Cooper Institute is the coordinator for the Texas affiliate of the program, Texas On the Move.

The Cooper Institute is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 that focuses on preventive medicine research and health education, promotion and certification. Areas of research include epidemiology, exercise physiology, behavior change, cancer prevention, children's health, obesity, nutrition, aging, diabetes, hypertension, weight management, health communication and other health issues.

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