Mcallen Case Study

731 Words2 Pages

At first glance, McAllen, Texas may seem like just another small town on the map. In fact, it’s one of the “largest” small towns, because it’s named the nation’s most obese metropolitan area. In McAllen, almost 40% of residents have a Body Mass Index of 30 or higher. The obesity rate is accredited to the residents’ poor health; 21% of the city’s population has been diagnosed with diabetes (more than any other metropolitan area in the United States). McAllen has one of the highest poverty rates in the country with 37.7% of the population living below the poverty line (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011). This little, diverse town needs big changes. As a Louisville Cardinal, I will begin my undergraduate studies in Pre-Medicine with a Spanish minor. As …show more content…

This means the majority of the residents in the metropolitan area live 10 miles away from a grocery store selling fresh produce. So, many of the occupants opt for whatever food is available, whether it be fast food or pre-packaged food. If this were to change, McAllen’s whole dynamic would be improved.
My action plan involves conferencing with the leaders of the city to set up food drives in nearby towns and building a local whole foods market. In addition, I will give public seminars to express the importance of all these matters. Accounting for the many different language groups in the area, I will educate the citizens about obesity, diabetes, physical health, and mental health, and the importance of how these precautions will secure the future of their families. Anticipating my future in medicine, I will initiate small awareness programs like these in order to invoke change at ground …show more content…

McAllen was named America’s most multilingual city in 2009 and the festival would highlight the many languages and cultures of the city to unite the citizens as one large community. The festival would incorporate good health habits, dancing, music, hearty potluck dishes, and celebrations of multiple heritages and cultures. This would promote good health and could potentially become an annual event that continues for generations. As my legacy, I hope to leave a lasting impact on the community that gives it a sense of newfound hope for the

Open Document