U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey has always demonstrated interest in his constituents. A recent trip to a Dallas health clinic underscored the importance of health and fitness in preventing long-term illnesses.
“The doctor in charge of this center advised me that the patient population at her particular clinic is about 60 percent African-American, 40 percent Hispanic and they’re currently treating one Anglo patient,” the Ft. Worth native said during a recent phone interview. “She also stated that younger and younger people are starting to come in for dialysis and that the reasons are almost always about diabetes and high blood pressure.”
Veasey doesn’t want to see the trend continue, which is why, for the second year in a row, he’s made concerted efforts to host local and out-of-state events in May, which is Health and Fitness Month. Whether it’s been at a Dallas YMCA to encourage participation in their Diabetes Prevention Program or co-hosting a Fort Worth Health Fair, Congressman Veasey emphasizes that small, steady changes are the way to stay motivated and get healthier. “I’ve been inspired in particular by The First Lady’s campaign, Let’s Move,” he says. “It’s not about having to eat a salad every single day or spending three hours in a gym, it’s about adding just 30 minutes of daily cardiovascular activity and cutting back on the heavily-processed foods.”
As for why Latinos and African-Americans seem to be disproportionately affected by ailments like heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, Congressman Veasey has learned that those diseases are usually a result of lifestyle. “We [as a society] have become dependent on food that is highly processed instead of more of our meals being cooked at home or healthier things being eaten, which has lead to an increase of obesity and those other health complications,” he says. “Type 2 Diabetes in particular is easier to prevent or control if changes are made, but if not, the alternative is just sad. Think about how going to a clinic for dialysis three times a week up to three hours a day can affect your work schedule, travel and vacation plans.”
Congressman Veasey, who’s also a member of The Congressional Diabetes Caucus, didn’t have to look far for examples, vividly remembering friends and family in his Stop Six Fort Worth neighborhood that suffered the devastating effects of diseases hastened by lifestyle choices and sometimes, misguided traditions. He and his wife Tonya take great strides to prevent their 8-year-old, Adam, from getting the wrong messages that they heard while growing up.
“Adam likes fruits and vegetables, but if we let him, he’d eat sweets all day,” Veasey says. “We remind him that eating well keeps him healthy and feeling good and we never make our son overeat. I had relatives that grew up in the country where food wasn’t always plentiful and always heard things like, “Are you sure you’re full, you hardly touched anything on your plate!’ So we ask him if he feels satisfied rather than full and if he is, I allow him to excuse himself from the table. That was a habit I had to change, after hearing it so often during my early years.”
Veasey promises that a new month won’t change his commitment to the well-being of his fellow citizens. “We want people to be live life and enjoy themselves. There are some great restaurants here in Dallas and Fort Worth, but you can do all of that and be healthy as long as you use moderation,” He says. “It didn’t take us long to get into the situation that we’re in now— just one generation back actually—so if that’s how fast we got here, then we ought to be able to make the important changes in one generation as well.”
