Funds For Oklahoma State Capitol Fitness Center Approved

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin on Friday applauded the board of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) after it approved funds for a fitness center at the state Capitol. Board members approved a $38,500 proposal submitted by Fallin, which includes a $20,000 contribution from the Oklahoma Hospital Association. The funds will largely be used for exercise equipment.  

Fallin proposed creating a Capitol Fitness Center in her annual State of the State address earlier this month. 

"Obesity is one of the major drags on the state's health indicators, and we're trying to lead by example at the Capitol by working out and improving our physical fitness," Fallin said. "My thanks go out to the board members of TSET as well as the Oklahoma Hospital Association for their support of this effort."

In her State of the State address, Fallin addressed Oklahoma's poor health indicators, saying that "healthy living is important, not just because we want Oklahomans to live full and happy lives, but because the effects of unhealthy life choices hurt our economy, drain taxpayer dollars and drive up the cost of health care for everyone." 

According to a July 2011 report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Trust for America's Health, Oklahoma's obesity rate has increased more than any other state since 1995.  

The report also said Oklahoma has the third-highest level of inactivity and for the past three years, is one of five states to have an increase in obesity.