Cypress Edition | January 2025

The e-edition is an exact replica of the newspaper with interactive and searchable articles from all your favorite sections.

Cypress Edition VOLUME 16, ISSUE 5 JAN. 14FEB. 11, 2025

2025 Health & Wellness Edition

Proposed THC ban could hurt Cy-Fair retailers

INSIDE

Ryan Martinez owns two Cy-Fair locations of CBD American Shaman, which oers hemp-derived products ranging from gummies and oils to beverages and topicals. With more than 100 retailers registered to sell these products locally, businesses could suer if a proposed THC ban is successful at the Texas Legislature this year.

RYAN REYNOLDSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Also in the Health & Wellness Edition

INSIDE 15 Learn how health care providers have been impacted by the rising demand for drugs to treat diabetes and obesity

Dr. Carrie Blades explains what you need to know about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

Explore walking trails, playgrounds and other amenities oered at some of the largest parks in Cy-Fair

Find out more about local eorts to help Parkinson’s patients thrive through group boxing lessons

INSIDE

Also in this issue Education: See how Cy-Fair ISD is improving elementary school reading levels (Page 9)

Premium sponsors

INSIDE

State: What you can expect from the 89th Texas legislative session (Page 31)

Mission Ranch

Chambers Creek

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CYPRESS EDITION

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Asia Armour Angela Bonilla Melissa Enaje Valeria Escobar Wesley Gardner Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Ryan Reynolds Nichaela Shaheen Jessica Shorten Haley Velasco Aubrey Vogel Kevin Vu Carson Weaver Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

Danica Lloyd Senior Editor dlloyd@ communityimpact.com

Martha Risinger Jesus Verastegui Taylor White Ronald Winters Account Executive Karen Nickerson Senior Managing Editor Matt Stephens Senior Product Manager Kaitlin Schmidt Quality Desk Editor Sierra Rozen

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CYPRESS EDITION

Impacts

• Opened Dec. 10 • 20711 Tuckerton Road, Ste. 300, Cypress • www.mypiada.com

BOTKINS RD.

4 Flying Biscuit Cafe Breakfast and lunch is served all day, including biscuits, omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, burgers and salads. • Opened Dec. 16 • 12020 FM 1960, Ste. 1000, Houston • www.flyingbiscuit.com 5 Neko Bento The restaurant serves authentic Japanese cuisine. • Opened Oct. 18 • 15202 Mason Road, Ste. 400, Cypress • www.neko-bento.com 6 Senate Avenue Pharmacy Owner Dr. Laura Smith Williams offers standard retail medications and will soon offer immunizations. • Opened Nov. 4 • 7412 Senate Ave., Jersey Village • www.senateavenuerx.com 7 Dental Care at Miramesa Dental cleanings, teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry, implants, oral surgery and Invisalign are available. • Opened Sept. 27 • 8910 Fry Road, Cypress • www.dentalcareatmiramesa.com 8 AGErite Pharmacy & Wellness Center The compounding and retail pharmacy and wellness center offers IV hydration, chemical peels and more. • Opened in October • 12827 Telge Road, Ste. 160, Cypress • www.ageritepharmacy.com 9 Wings87 The halal eatery offers 87 wing sauce options. • Opened Nov. 15 • 13110 FM 529, Ste. 4, Houston • www.wings87.com

G R A N T

249

CHAMPION FOREST DR.

S C H IEL RD.

L O U E T T

VINTAGE PARK BLVD.

HOUSE & HAHL RD.

WILLOWBROOK MALL

99 TOLL

MIL

N. BRIDGELAND LAKE PKWY.

CYPRESS N. HOUSTON RD.

290

1960

BRIDGELAND CREEK PKWY.

A L

FRY RD.

GREENHOUSE RD.

SENATE AVE.

L O

ELYSON EXCHANGE WAY

529

MAP NOT TO SCALE

2 Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii The menu has drinks and Hawaiian-inspired dishes. • Opened in December • 11930 Barker Cypress Road, Ste. 800, Cypress • www.badasscoffee.com 3 Piada Italian Street Food Customizable salads, tossed pastas and flatbread wraps known as piadas are on the menu.

Now open

1 Restivo Family Cellars Specializing in Texas wines, the winery offers an outdoor tasting area each weekend and is family-friendly. • Opened Nov. 22

• 18918 Hopfe Road, Hockley • www.restivofamilycellars.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

10 Sichuan Pepper Express The menu offers orange chicken, egg rolls and fried rice. • Opened Nov. 18 • 10843 FM 1960, Houston • https://sichuanpepperexpress.com 11 Taqueria Agave De Jalisco Menu items include tacos, fajitas, enchiladas and tortas. • Opened in late October • 10511 Jones Road, Houston • Facebook: Taqueria Agave De Jalisco 12 KK Cheesecakes The bakery offers cheesecakes and cookies. • Opened Dec. 7 • 29110 Hwy. 290, Ste. 220, Cypress • www.kkcheesecakes.com 13 Livewell Animal Hospital The animal hospital offers comprehensive care. • Opened Nov. 11 • 9405 Barker Cypress Road, Cypress • www.livewellanimalcypress.com 14 Floyd’s 99 Barbershop The barbershop is known for its straight-razor neck shave, haircuts, coloring and waxing. • Opened Dec. 13 • 9620 Fry Road, Ste. 700, Cypress • www.floydsbarbershop.com 15 StretchMed Cypress The facility offers professional stretching services. • Opened Nov. 13 • 17400 Spring Cypress Road, Ste. 120, Cypress • www.stretchmedstudios.com 16 Supr Pickleball Owner Gavin West said the veteran-owned business offers six indoor climate-controlled courts. • Opened Oct. 5 • 15028 Boudreaux Road, Tomball • www.suprpickleball.com

17 Petfolk The veterinary practice offers primary care, urgent care, vaccinations, surgery, dental care and more. • Opened in November • 126 Vintage Park Blvd., Ste. D, Houston • www.petfolk.com

Now open

Coming soon

18 Busy Bee Boba The business offers coffee, milk tea and smoothies as well as banh mi sandwiches and snacks. • Opening in early 2025 • 15301 FM 529, Ste. 150, Houston • www.busybeeboba.com 19 Brit’s Batch Britney Ong sells homemade desserts and coffee drinks. • Opening in January • 24510 Hwy. 249, Tomball • Facebook: Brit’s Batch 20 Beans & Brew Coffee House The franchise offers coffee drinks and breakfast items. • Opening in early 2025 • 16507 Mueschke Road, Ste. 100, Cypress • www.beansandbrews.com 21 Smoothie King The chain offers smoothies and smoothie bowls. • Opening in August • 7016 Elyson Exchange Way, Ste. B200, Cypress • www.smoothieking.com

23 Fogo de Chão The restaurant is known for its churrasco experience in which high-quality cuts of meat are roasted over an open flame. In addition to bone-in ribeye, lamb chops and picanha, Fogo de Chão offers the seasonal Market Table and Feijoada Bar. On-site dry-aged meat lockers allow for in-house aging; a full bar offers cocktails, wine and beer; and private dining spaces are also available. • Opened Dec. 9 • 19820 Hwy. 290, Houston • www.fogodechao.com

In the news

24 La Michoacana Supermarket The grocery store is slated to debut upgrades to its meat market and food preparation working area in June. • 6510 FM 1960, Houston • www.lamichoacanameatmarket.com Phoenix Rising The online car club founded by Anthony Shorrosh combines a passion for high-end vehicles with its mission to give back to Houston’s veteran community. It will launch in January. • www.phoenixrisingmythics.com

Relocations

22 Beadoholique Bead Shop Also known as Two Loose Beads, the beading supply shop moved from its previous location off FM 529. • Relocated Sept. 3 • 13750 N. Eldridge Parkway, Ste. 300, Cypress • www.twoloosebeads.com

9212 Fry Rd., Suite 100 Cypress, TX 77433 713.852.6700 TexasBayCU.org

PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER

CYPRESS EDITION

Government

BY EMILY LINCKE

$4M invested in abuse reduction efforts On Dec. 10, Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $4 million plan to aid domestic violence survivors. The overview Harris County has a 75% turn-away rate for peo- ple looking for help when trying to escape domestic violence, Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said during a Dec. 10 press conference. The county has also had the highest numbers for intimate partner violence in the state since 2022, according to a Dec. 10 news release from Briones’ office. The Houston Area Women’s Center will receive the initial $1 million investment, according to a Dec. 10 news release. The center will collaborate with the University of Houston Institute for Research on Women, Gender & Sexuality, and the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council for the project.

1st Harris County AAPI commission created A new Harris County commission—which was created during the Dec. 10 Commission- ers Court meeting—will target topics such as health and safety for Asian American and Pacific Islander residents throughout the county. The big picture The population of Asian Harris County residents grew 53% across the Houston metro area from 2010 to 2020, according to Dec. 10 Harris County Commissioners Court meeting documents. According to the meeting documents, the new commission will: • Advise Commissioners Court • Work with organizations and residents • Focus on advancing policies

75% of people seeking help when experiencing domestic violence are turned away in Harris County. A 10% decrease in the turn-away rate is Harris County’s goal with the new plan.

75%

10%

$1M

$4M

is being invested to aid domestic violence survivors in Harris County.

will be initially given to The Houston Area Women’s Center.

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

According to Dec. 10 meeting documents, the county’s domestic violence plan will: • Aim to decrease shelter turn-away rates by 10% • Add texting and social media options • Allow for additional training for providers • Encourage increased collaboration • Be contracted Dec. 10, 2024-Dec. 9, 2025 with three options for one-year renewals

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Education

BY RYAN REYNOLDS

CFISD names new chief academic officer Cy-Fair ISD has named Tonya Goree as the district’s new chief academic officer, accord- ing to a Dec. 13 news release. Goree will oversee the district’s curriculum and instruction. She replaces Linda Macias, whose retirement was effective Dec. 31. Career history Goree, who joined CFISD in 2009, spent the last year as the assistant superintendent for elementary curriculum and instruction, leading CFISD’s pre-K through fifth grade curriculum and instruction programs while supporting principals and leadership teams. Before that, she was the assistant super- intendent for school improvement and transformation from 2018-23, where she supported campuses and coached principals on improvement practices.

Monitoring progress About 12,500 elementary school students who were falling behind in reading last year are being monitored in the 2024-25 school year for progress. The data shows the percentage of students who had not caught up to grade level by the end of September.

0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

88% 90%

41%

32% 39%

First grade

Second grade

Third grade

Fourth grade

Fifth grade

SOURCE: CY-FAIR ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Report shows student reading progress Cy-Fair ISD is using new tools to track the progress of students in first through fifth grades who did not meet reading standards. CFISD Chief Academic Officer Linda Macias said during the Dec. 5 board meeting the district is tracking student performance using forma- tive assessments and Amira, a reading support

program, as part of CFISD’s new strategic plan. In a nutshell Amira requires students to read aloud into a headset, and the interactive software analyzes their work. Along with Amira, the school district uses formative assessments to monitor student learning. Breaking it down One of the district’s goals focuses on getting 90% of students to meet the 50% Amira Reading Mastery score by 2029.

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CYPRESS EDITION

Transportation

BY RYAN REYNOLDS

Texas drivers save time, fuel as traffic delays drop by 7%

Texas drivers have experienced shorter com- mute times and fewer traffic delays over the last five years, according to a Texas Department of Transportation Nov. 25 news release. Analysis of the Texas A&M Transportation Insti- tute’s annual report shows that TxDOT projects have reduced traffic delays by 7% since 2019, even though the total number of miles traveled state- wide has risen 7%. The TTI measures congestion on over 2,100 road segments, or about 10,000 miles of Texas roads each year. The Texas Legislature directed the TTI to begin conducting the annual study in 2009 due to growing urban road congestion. Breaking it down The study, which focuses on the state’s top 100 congested roadways, found that upgrades to key roads have saved commuters around $915 million annually in costs associated with gas and time delayed on roadways. On average, Texas drivers

save $125 annually and spend 34.5 hours less in traffic delays throughout the year. Per TxDOT, about half of the top 100 most congested roads were under construction in 2023. Diving in deeper Texas’ most congested roadway in 2024 was Houston’s Loop 610 West between I-10 and I-69. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the West Loop has held the top spot for congestion, and it cost motorists over $125 million this year, according to TTI data. Quote of note TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said TTI’s annual report proves that the projects TxDOT officials are working on are making a difference. “We can see that our projects are having a sig- nificant impact on our roadways, helping improve efficiency and connectivity across the state,” Williams said in the release.

Texas road travel changes, 2019-23* Annual hours of delay Austin

Vehicle miles of travel +6%

-21%

+13%

Dallas

+1%

+16% +22%

Fort Worth

+3%

Houston

-9%

+3%

San Antonio

-12%

+7%

Statewide

-7%

*ASSUMES A 20-MILE COMMUTE, FIVE DAYS A WEEK SOURCE: TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Real estate

About half of all single-family homes sold in Cy- Fair in November were in ZIP code 77433. Overall home sales were about the same year over year across seven ZIP codes. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

November 2023

November 2024

+23.81%

+33.33%

-28.57%

+50%

+6.06%

-16.46%

+2.11%

77040

77064

77065

77070

77095

77429

77433

99 TOLL

77429

290

77070

1960

Median home sales price

77064

77433

249

November

2023

2024

529

$314,500 $275,500 $295,000 $319,000 $315,000 $377,500 $446,725

$300,000 $302,000 $305,000 $336,750 $340,000 $408,068 $451,020

77095

77065

77040 77064 77065 77070 77095 77429 77433

77040

Homes sold by price point

November 2024

$800,000+

$600,000-$799,999

133

$400,000-$599,999

Average days on market

+61.11%

+53.19%

-27.27%

+52.94%

+75%

+57.14%

-5.13%

186

$200,000-$399,999

<$200,000

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY BOUTWELL PROPERTIES 17506 BOBCAT TRAIL, CYPRESS. 281-305-8533. OFFICE@THEBOUTWELLTEAM.COM

77040

77064

77065

77070

77095

77429

77433

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CYPRESS EDITION

Taking care of your health is easier when the doctors you need are under one umbrella. At Memorial Hermann Medical Group, we offer a spectrum of quality care, from routine screenings to advanced specialty care, including virtual options. With convenient locations in Cypress, it’s simpler to find the providers right for you and your family close to home. It’s the care you need designed around you. memorialhermann.org/community-cypress The doctors you trust for the care you need in Cypress.

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Health & wellness

BY HANNAH NORTON

Health & Wellness Edition 2025

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Health & Wellness Edition! This brand new guide features the latest updates and resources on health and wellness in Cy-Fair. All of the stories were written by our team of local journalists. In this year’s edition, learn more about how a potential statewide ban on THC could aect Cy- Fair retailers and what the growing GLP-1 trend means for local health care providers. Also, check out features on a local restaurant with a seasonal farm-to-table menu, an innovative mental health care provider and other local businesses.

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Texas ranks No. 1 in uninsured rates

High health care costs

Nearly half of Texans have employer- sponsored health insurance.

About 5 million Texans, or 16.4% of the state population, did not have health insurance in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Texas’ uninsured rate was higher than any other state and more than twice the national rate of 7.9%. The big picture For three years in a row, Texas health insurance premiums have increased by over 5% annually, according to the Texas Association of Health Plans, which represents insurers. Blake Hutson, director of public aairs, said the Texas Legislature has also added more requirements in recent years. According to Texans for Aordable Healthcare, recent state mandates have limited the types of health coverage small businesses can oer, barred certain insurance providers from directing patients to mail-order pharmacies and more. Zooming in A lack of transparency is driving high health

insurance costs, senators said during a May 14 Texas Senate Health and Human Services Commit- tee hearing. Sen. Charles Perry, RLubbock, said giving people the true costs of medical services could help lower insurance premiums. “There’s no incentive for insurance companies to pay less, and the system of health care delivery we have today demands the lack of transparency for it to work,” he said. One more thing Texas is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid, which provides health coverage to low-income people. Texans can qualify for Medicaid based on a combination of factors, but residents can qualify based on income alone in states with expanded Medicaid. The state would spend about $700 million per year to expand Medicaid and would receive about $7 billion in federal funding, said Eva DeLuna Castro, a budget analyst in the Texas House.

About 68% of Texas’ 3.2 million small businesses do not oer health coverage for their employees. On average, Texas families pay $7,500 in annual employer-sponsored insurance premiums, while employers pay $15,000 per employee.

Where to get help Uninsured Texans can visit 75 federally qualied health centers across 127 counties, which oer medical care regardless of insurance coverage or a patient’s ability to pay. Other options for people without health insurance include: • Texas’ Primary Health Care Program: Provides primary care services at clinics across the state • Healthy Texas Women: Offers free women’s health and family planning services • The Texas HIV Medication Program: Helps low-income Texans access medications to treat HIV and related complications SOURCE: TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, TEXICARE, TEXAS 2036COMMUNITY IMPACT

CYPRESS EDITION

March 6, 2025

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Health & wellness

BY EMILY LINCKE & JESSICA SHORTEN

Ozempic and Zepbound are some of the names of a class of medicines known as Glucagon-like peptide 1 drugs, which can be prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes or obesity and have rapidly grown in popularity, according to Houston-area doctors. A new request by Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk could limit a type of GLP-1—semaglutides— for local clinics and pharmacies. This shift comes amid safety concerns regarding compounded versions of the drugs and could cause price increases, medical professionals say. “A large concern is the lack of evidence for safety and ecacy of these compounded versions,” said Dr. Deborah Horn, director of obesity medicine at UTHealth Houston. Novo Nordisk spokesperson Eric Altho said the move to prevent other pharmacies from recreating their own versions of the drug is meant to protect the safety of patients who use semaglutide. “Semaglutide products t this description due to their inherent complexity and the potential dangers associated with attempting to compound them,” Altho said. Demand rising for semaglutides

A closer look at GLP1 drugs

adults have used GLP-1 drugs to lose weight or treat a chronic condition—such as diabetes or heart disease.

1 8 in

$10.7B was spent nationally on semaglutides in 2021. A 300% increase in GLP-1 prescriptions was seen from the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2022. 22% of adults who have taken GLP-1 drugs received them from an online provider, website, medical spa or aesthetic medical center. 392 reports of adverse events with compounded semaglutide have been reported to the Food and Drug Administration in 2024.

GLP-1 drugs perform a number of functions including:

Targeting receptors in the brain to lessen cravings/hunger A

Side eects of GLP-1 drugs can include: • Nausea/vomiting • Diarrhea • Abdominal pain • Constipation

Slowing food down as it travels through the gut, keeping patients feeling fuller longer

Increasing the release of insulin

GLP-1 use

To treat a chronic condition* 39%

To lose weight 38%

SOURCES: KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION SURVEY, U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, UH COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, THE MAYO CLINIC, TRILLIANT HEALTH COMMUNITY IMPACT

Both 23%

*NOTE: EXAMPLES OF “CHRONIC CONDITIONS” LISTED IN THE KFF SURVEYS ARE DIABETES OR HEART DISEASE.

The cost

Zooming out

What they're saying

The average cost of GLP-1 drugs ranges from $936-$1,023 for a one-month supply, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. However, Horn said the production of com- pounded versions of semaglutides provides aordable access. “If the compounding pharmacies could demonstrate the ecacy and safety to the FDA, I would welcome the scenario as it would force the price of the patented drugs to come down,” Horn said.

Dr. Jason Balette, medical director over weight loss surgery at Memorial Hermann The Wood- lands, said he believes the rise in obesity in the population has created more desire for quick weight loss options. “What’s interesting to me is the transition from patients that will jump on a semaglutide or go down that pathway of trying to obtain a semaglutide and then reverting back to surgery,” Balette said. However, Dr. Tyler J. Varisco, assistant director at the University of Houston’s College of Pharmacy, expressed concerns that the widespread availability of compounded semaglutides has reduced the amount of available products for those struggling with diabetes and medical weight loss issues. “Health equity is important, and we want these drugs to be available to people who actually need them,” Varisco said. “I hate to see when we have national organizations … and some of these bigger telehealth providers that … just write these medications for anybody, and then patients who are treated by local providers, who have had a quality visit, who have been assessed—they suer.”

“These drugs are inherently complex to compound safely, and the risks they pose to patient safety far outweigh any benets.” ERIC ALTHOFF,

SPOKESPERSON, NOVO NORDISK

Cost of various GLP-1 brands*

Ozempic injection $936 Wegovy injection $1,349

Rybelsus tablet $936 Mounjaro injection $1,023

“At the end of the day, we have the public health to worry about,

and I think access will remain ... important.” DR. TYLER J. VARISCO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON’S COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

Insurance coverage for GLP-1 drugs

19%

Insurance covered full cost Insurance covered part of cost Full cost paid by user

57%

24%

*AS OF AUG. 15, 2023

SOURCE: KFFCOMMUNITY IMPACT

CYPRESS EDITION

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Located about 45 miles north of downtown Houston, students living in the first phase of COLTON will attend Magnolia ISD, and the community will be designed to include proposed future on-site schools. With the improvements and expansion of SH249, residents of COLTON will have ease of access to employment and education corridors throughout Houston, The Woodlands, Conroe, College Station and beyond. Known for promoting a sense of community where residents can live, work and play, AIRIA will deliver the same heartfelt care and detail to this master-plan design for the residents of COLTON.

Construction is underway surrounding SH 249 Aggie Expressway and FM 1486, near Magnolia. This first phase will deliver approxi - mately 685 lots ranging from 45 ft. to 80 ft. wide with minimum depths starting at 125 ft. Model Homes and the first homebuyer purchase opportunities will begin in late 2024. COLTON is the third and largest community for AIRIA Development ® Company, whose other projects include award-winning develop- ments Aliana ® in Richmond, and ARTAVIA ® in the Montgomery County/Conroe, TX area. “We didn’t want just a theme for COLTON, we wanted something more. Something that grounds and ties us straight to the soul of this great state,” said Travis Stone, President of AIRIA Development Company, the developer of COLTON. “We’re creating a community that is exciting and new, yet familiar. A sense of place that is truly quintessential Texas.”

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Health & wellness

BY HANNAH NORTON

Legislature eyes stricter food safety standards to curb disease

While life expectancy has risen in recent years, Americans are getting sick earlier in life, public health and wellness experts told the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Nov. 13. For example, colon and rectal cancer are the leading cause of cancer deaths in men under age 50, and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women under age 50, according to a 2024 report by the American Cancer Society. “People are living sick longer,” said Jason Karp, CEO of health company HumanCo. “So, I don’t think necessarily lifespan is the only variable to look at. ‘Health span’ is a new term that they’re using, which is how you feel when you’re 60 or 70 or 80.” Panelists said rising obesity rates were another consequence of lax food safety standards. Roughly 40% of U.S. adults were considered obese—defined as a body mass index of 30 or above—between August 2021-August 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. That’s up from 15% in 1976, according to the National Institutes of Health. “I don’t think that our government has focused as much as we should on these root causes [of chronic disease],” said Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham.

U.S. adult obesity rates, 2023 Health experts say genes, stress, exercise, food affordability, access to health care and more can contribute to obesity.

25% to 29.9% Less than 25% 35% to 39.9% 40% to 44.9% Insufficient data 30% to 34.9%

Texas obesity rates

Obesity and diabetes

40%

36.1%

35.8%

35.5%

Obesity is linked to up to 53% of new cases of type 2 diabetes each year

34.4%

34%

35%

30%

2.7 million Texans have been diagnosed with diabetes

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

SOURCES: U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

One more thing

Zooming in

Legislative approach In November, Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, filed Senate Bill 314, which would ban the following food additives from free and reduced- price meals in Texas public schools: Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the drink stabilizer Aug. 2. Found in some baked goods, like bagels and bread, to improve product texture. Potassium bromate Used as a preservative in some packaged baked goods, like pastries and tortillas. Propylparaben Used to bleach flour and strengthen dough in items like pizzas, burger buns and more. Azodicarbonamide Found as a preservative in some cured meats, cereals and active dry yeast. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) The synthetic dye, made from petroleum, is found in some candies and beverages. Red Dye 3 Used to whiten or enhance color in some shredded cheese, gum and candies. Titanium dioxide

Texas senators said Nov. 13 they were inter- ested in tightening regulations on food additives, like chemicals and artificial dyes, to improve food safety and better inform consumers. California is the first state to ban six artificial dyes from food and drinks served at public schools, Karp said. The California Food Safety Act, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 28, will prohibit public schools from serving foods containing Blue Dye 1, Blue Dye 2, Green Dye 3, Red Dye 40, Yellow Dye 5 or Yellow Dye 6 begin- ning in late 2027. Senators said they would like to see Texas follow suit. “These known toxins that other countries and other [states] have already said, ‘No, you’re not going to poison our people over here’—it’s time for us to step up and join in,” Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, said. “Let’s just stop the bad stuff. We’re not going to change people’s habits overnight on how they raise their kids and what they eat and how they cook ... but we can at least do the responsible thing.”

Kolkhorst said solving issues with nutrition and health require changes across the board. “I think this goes into the pharmaceutical conversation, the training of our medical workforce, what we’re eating, the discoveries we make that give us longevity,” Kolkhorst said. Eric Boerwinkle, dean of the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, said 80% of health outcomes are driven by “nonmedical factors,” such as access to healthy food. “It’s important, as we think about what we can do to improve the health of Texas, [to consider] how we bridge health care and the social service providers or community organizations that are helping us with food distribution, or industry that’s helping us with food quality,” he said.

SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

CYPRESS EDITION

Proposed THC ban could hurt Cy-Fair retailers From the cover

What’s happening

Registered hemp retailers in Cy-Fair

Cy-Fair

111 retailers are registered to sell hemp products in Cy-Fair.

Ryan Martinez owns two CBD American Shaman stores in Cy-Fair offering CBD and legal THC products, which he said he believes help with anxiety, inflammation, sleep, addiction and more. Texas legalized the sale of hemp-derived products in 2019, and 111 retailers are registered to sell them in Cy-Fair today compared to 24 in Tomball, 78 in Katy and 79 in Spring, according to the state health department. But Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said efforts to ban all forms of THC are underway in Texas as some retailers have “exploited” state law. “Since 2023, thousands of stores selling hazardous THC products have popped up,” he said in the release. “Many sell products … [with] three to four times the THC content which might be found in marijuana purchased from a drug dealer.” Analytics firm Brightfield Group reported sales of intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids delta-8 and delta-9 THC spiked 1,283% nationally from 2020-23. Nico Richardson, CEO of Texas Original medical marijuana supplier, said 1,948 Texas stores sold hemp products in 2020. The state has over 7,970 registered hemp retailers today. “The only difference between medical marijuana in this state and intoxicating hemp is that one is heavily regulated, and the other is not,” Richardson said at a May 29 Texas Senate hearing.

N. ELDRIDGE PKWY.

SPRING CYPRESS RD.

249

R D .

290

1960

99 TOLL

RD.

FAIRBANKS N. HOUSTON RD.

529

Breaking it down

610

CBD Cannabidiol is derived from the cannabis plant but does not have psychoactive properties. It is marketed to treat pain, anxiety, insomnia and more.

Delta-9 THC Consumable hemp products with less than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol are legal in Texas after the passage of House Bill 1325 in 2019.

Delta-8 THC The chemical structure is similar to delta-9, but a lawsuit to determine its legality is pending at the Texas Supreme Court. Delta-8 was not specifically mentioned in HB 1325.

SOURCES: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, TEXAS STATE LAW LIBRARY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

How we got here

Zooming in

The timeline

In 2018, the federal Farm Bill was signed into law, legalizing industrial hemp production. The following year, Texas passed House Bill 1325 to outline the regulation of hemp production and products with a concentration of 0.3% THC or less. This bill was in part intended to bolster Texas agriculture, Patrick said. However, Richardson said most hemp products sold in Texas come from out of state. “Our state regulators have no jurisdiction over out-of-state labs and therefore no ability to verify test results,” Richardson said. “With more than 7,000 retailers and thousands of out-of-state prod- ucts being shipped into Texas every day, it’s near impossible to confirm the accuracy of out-of-state lab results.” State officials at the May 29 hearing said while they have the authority to inspect hemp manu- facturers and retail registrants in Texas, product testing is expensive, and it would take years to reach every retailer with current staffing.

2015

HB 1325 did not specify an age require- ment for purchasing consumable hemp products. Betsy Jones, director of policy and strategy at Texans for Safe and Drug-Free Youth, said just because these products are easily accessible for teenagers and young adults doesn’t mean they’re safe. Candies, snacks and flavored vape prod- ucts often come in packaging children might find attractive, she said. But with similar effects to traditional marijuana, Jones said they may lead to higher rates of depression and anxiety, psychosis, addiction, impair- ment, and emergency room visits. “We don’t know the short-term or long- term harms of the products, so we can’t ade- quately regulate them,” Jones said. “And we have evidence that bans do work as long as they’re comprehensive in that we’ve closed all the loopholes and they’re enforced.”

2015: Texas passes Senate Bill 339, which launched a medical marijuana program in 2017 2018: Federal Farm Bill passes, legalizing the commercial production of hemp 2019: Texas passes House Bill 1325, legalizing the sale of hemp-derived products with less than 0.3% THC 2021: Texas Department of State Health Services attempts to ban delta-8; the case is awaiting a final decision from the Texas Supreme Court 2024: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces intentions to ban all THC products in Texas 2025: 89th Texas Legislature convenes Jan. 14-June 2

2020

2025

SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, TEXAS ORIGINAL, TEXAS STATE LAW LIBRARY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY DANICA LLOYD & RYAN REYNOLDS

What they’re saying

What’s next

Patrick said state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, will file Senate Bill 3 to ban all forms of THC in Texas with “broad bipartisan support” expected. It has not been filed as of press time. In 2019, local siblings Kyle Williams and Jennifer Gilleland opened Herban Healing in Cypress shortly after CBD products were legalized nationally. As legal THC grew in popularity, they shifted to focus on supplying CBD to hospice care facilities. Gilleland said she’s glad they pivoted as she anticipates changes coming to the industry in the 89th legislative session. While CBD would still be legal, Williams said the retailers currently offering legal THC products would suffer financially. “I know it’s going to hurt a lot of people because if you walk into a lot of these stores around here, that’s one of the big sellers,” he said.

In testimony to the Texas Senate on behalf of the Texas Medical Association, Texas Pediatric Society and Texas Public Health Coalition, Austin-area physician Dr. Robert Emmick said he believes there’s not enough research to know how these products impact adolescents. In the meantime, delta-8 and delta-9 products should be considered unsafe for youth, he said, as teenagers and young adults could be at higher risk for developing substance use disorders. These three organizations made several recommendations to lawmakers, including: • Establish a minimum age requirement of 21 to purchase delta-8 and delta-9. • Require child-resistant packaging. • Bolster testing systems to ensure 0.3% THC guideline compliance. • Establish safety monitoring strategies and research to detect health outcomes.

“Kids can get [cannabis products] in all kinds of places—grocery stores, convenience stores, … literally

across the street from schools in some cases.” BETSY JONES, DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND STRATEGY, TEXANS FOR SAFE AND DRUGFREE YOUTH

“There’s different things that I feel like our products do for people that

if you try to outlaw these products, it’s going to be more harm than good.” RYAN MARTINEZ, OWNER, TWO LOCAL CBD AMERICAN SHAMAN LOCATIONS

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Health & wellness

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

Doctor breaks down bioidentical hormone replacement therapy Dr. Carrie Blades originally grew up in Humble and went on to earn a medical degree from Louisi- ana State University in Shreveport. She worked at the North Cypress Medical Center emergency room from 2007 to 2018 and opened her own practice, Blades Wellness & Aesthetics, in 2017. Blades is certified in emergency medicine and has advanced training in hormone replacement therapy and functional medicine through organizations such as Worldlink Medical, The Institute for Functional Medicine and the American Academy of Anti-Aging. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. What led you to create a business practicing bioidentical hormone replacement therapy? I was diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid issues as a teenager. At the time, I was told that it was something that probably ran in my family, and it was something that I would have to live with for the rest of my life. I wasn’t really offered any way to try to reverse the autoimmune issues. My autoim- mune thyroid condition was so severe that by the time I was a second-year medical student, I had developed thyroid cancer. ... After facing thyroid cancer and then being concerned about possible breast cancer, I really started to do a deep dive into how our hormones, as well as environmental and genetic risk factors, play a part in our overall health. My own personal journey trying to figure out how to improve my own health is what led me to move from practicing emergency medicine to practicing bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Can you briefly explain what BHRT is? As we age, our body slowly stops producing all of our hormones. For most of us, it’s a gradual progress. ... We start to put more fat on places we’ve never had. And sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you exercise [or] how clean you eat; it can be very difficult to maintain a lean body mass. A lot of that has to do with our hormones changing, and so as our bodies get weaker, we start to develop certain chronic diseases. ... Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy helps a person optimize their hormones to not only get them feeling better, but also to help them be able to build lean muscle again, strengthen bone density, improve cognitive function and reduce visceral fat so that we can reduce our risk of things like cardiovascular dis- ease, dementia, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. There’s so many different hormonal issues that people can have symptoms of yet their labs don’t always indicate that there’s an issue. What specific symptoms indicate someone could benefit from BHRT? Acne, abnormal or irregular cycles, weight gain, insomnia, fatigue, PMS, hair loss, anxiety or depression, memory fog, concentration issues and mood changes can all be symptoms of someone who could benefit from BHRT. What therapies does Blades Wellness & Aesthetics provide? We offer hormone replacement therapy in various routes. There are oral medications, patches, creams, injections and pellet options for replacement of certain hormones. Hormones that we commonly help patients optimize depending on their needs are thyroid, DHEA, testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, vitamin D3, melatonin and oxytocin.

COURTESY BLADES WELLNESS & AESTHETICS

How long does it typically take to see results from BHRT? Most of our patients feel significantly better within the first four to six weeks of starting our program. If a patient has been suffering for several years, it may take several months or even up to a year to get their disease process reversed to get them feeling back to their best self. Typically, we have somebody optimized and feeling their best by the second or third visit.

10242 Greenhouse Road, Ste. 201, Cypress www.bladeswellness.com

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