
By: Marisa Hudson
HEAL Committee Member
Marisa Hudson is a third-year MD/MPH student at Baylor College of Medicine and UT School of Public Health.
Obesity is an increasingly common problem in the Houston area and can cause many health complications, including heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver, and a shortened life expectancy. Sadly, this trend is not limited to adults. An estimated 50% of youth are overweight or obese in Houston. This devastating reality reflects a culture of sedentary activity and fast food consumption. Such habits can be attributed to multiple factors, including lack of access to good nutrition, lack of nutritional awareness, and safe spaces for physical activity.
Many individuals feel motivated to live healthier lifestyles, but simply don’t know where to start. These resources are meant to serve as inspiration for eating well and staying active. Gym memberships can be expensive — not to mention that the current COVID-19 pandemic makes gym time even less feasible. For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of outdoor green spaces and smartphone apps that can be used for socially distant, affordable workouts. Additionally, we’ve assembled a collection of nutrition apps and websites with recipes to provide you with healthier alternatives in the kitchen. Explore the options and see what works for you! Finding types of exercise that you actually enjoy and meals that both taste good and are good for you are keys to long-term change. Together, we can work to overcome obesity in our local Houston community.
To your good health and wellbeing,
Healthy Eating & Active Living (HEAL) Committee
Free/ Low Cost Exercise Resources
Free/ Low Cost Nutrition Resources
