March 2012 Engage - Regional Healthcare: Does Austin deserve its "Fit City" moniker?

The Rollins Theater at the Long Center for the Performing Arts was the scene on March 6th for another lively discussion in our ongoing ATXpansion Engage Breakfast Series.

Austin is acclaimed for its fitness lifestyle – from avid joggers on the Lady Bird Lake trail to the Cap-10K – and our youthful and fit population, natural resources and great climate all lend themselves to our designation as the “Fit City.” But how well does this description fit our population at large? According to the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, 28% of Austin’s kindergartners are overweight or obese.

We'd like to know what you think. What is your take on Austin's health and fitness needs?

Our expert panel explored just how healthy Central Texans really are. What are our providers, citizens and business leaders doing to help keep the city, themselves and their employees healthy? What are our challenges and prospects for the future to be a truly healthy region?

Hadlock

Panelists included:

• Paul Carrozza - Founder and CEO, RunTex
• Dr. Stephen Pont - Medical Director, Texas Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas
• Ellen Richards - Director of Planning, Central Health
• Leslie Sweet - Austin and Central Texas Public Affairs Director, H-E-B
• Moderator: Robert Hadlock, KXAN

Carrozza

Pont

Richards

Sweet

Update - Highlights from the panel:

• “Education is related to health overall. One area we can focus on is to help kids get through high school” - Ellen Richards
• "This is a quality of life issue. What you do creates a need for what you eat. Athletes lay around and rest more than any other person because of how they train. If they do the training, the rest of the lifestyle works." - Paul Carrozza
• “There are a lot of fit folks in Austin but also a lot of disparity as well” “There’s such a great potential for us to be a diamond in being a fit city." - Dr. Stephen Pont
• “We noticed about six years ago that our HEBuddy line had some harmful ingredients, so our food scientists went back and re-worked the entire line. Now if a parent doesn't have time to read the label on a product, they can count on the fact that HEBuddy products are a good choice for their family." - Leslie Sweet

Resources and information:

• Register for the KXAN Town Hall on Regional Healthcare
• Goodhealth.com
• Heather McKissick's post at Goodhealth.com
• ATX100: a specially designed club to help those who want to lose 100 pounds or more.
• Texas Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity
• Health and Wellness at H-E-B
• Central Health White Paper: Health and Health Care Trends & Innovations in Central Texas

Online and media coverage:

• Thom Singers blog post about today's breakfast: Some Assembly Required
• KXAN TV: ATXpansion health coverage

Live audience polling results:

As always, many thanks to our presenting sponsor Capital One Bank and special sponsors, CorpFit and goodhealth.com. Thanks to our program partners - The Long Center for the Performing Arts, KXAN News, Sterling Affairs Catering and Events - and our mobile technology partner 44Doors.