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Sen. Eddie Lucio, shown here with Sen. Wendy Davis in July 2013, bemoaned obesity rates in McAllen at a conference (Rodolfo Gonzalez/Austin American-Statesman).
At a conference on obesity, state Sen. Eddie Lucio noted that Brownsville and McAllen are among the poorest cities in the U.S.
"Because higher rates of poverty are associated with poorer health care outcomes, it should come as no surprise that McAllen is also one of the most obese areas of the country," the Brownsville Democrat continued, according to prepared remarks.
"Nearly 40 percent of my constituents there suffer," he said.
We found substance to his claim.
Nuggets:
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--By one analysis, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area had a greater share of obese residents in 2012 than the eight other biggest metro areas of Texas with Beaumont-Port Arthur placing second at nearly 33 percent and Austin-Round Rock bringing up the rear, at 23 percent.
--Nationally, Boulder, Colo., was the skinniest metro area with less than 13 percent obesity. The national average was 26 percent.
Another analysis concluded that 45 percent of McAllen-area residents are obese.
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