3. • Nearly 20% of adults are obese
• CO is ranked 23rd
for childhood obesity
• Obesity rates have nearly doubled since 1995
• Only 35% will be at healthy weight by 2017
• $874 million/year on obesity-related medical costs
Obesity in Colorado
4. .
MISSION
Inspire and advance policy, environmental and lifestyle changes that promote health
through the prevention and reduction of obesity.
VISION
All Coloradoans enjoy a lifestyle that includes healthy eating and active living. The
state’s tradition of health and wellness is fully embraced by its residents.
Mission and Vision
6. • Represents the local component of the state-wide movement
• LWC funds, provides technical assistance to, and mobilizes local coalitions to create
opportunities for Healthy Eating & Active Living
• Local communities are expected to engage in systemic and sustainable strategies
(policy, built environment, & awareness/education)
• Coalitions include: School districts, healthcare providers, community residents,
business leaders, elected officials, public health agencies, and local government
agency staff.
Community Investment
8. Some Trends among LiveWell
Colorado Communities
•LW Communities partner with local
governments to create built environments
that support healthy eating and active living
opportunities through:
•$
•Assessment & evidence
•A community voice
•Parent engagement is the key ingredient in
moving school wellness from policy to
implementation
•Hot Cheetos are everywhere and winning
the food access campaign: What can we
learn from Frito-Lay?
Notas del editor
Good Morning! Thank you for attending this session and for your interest in Healthy People and Healthy Places. I’m going to make a few introductory comments, provide some context and then turn it over to the experts on the front lines.
Obesity is a health issue, there is no doubt about it. It leads to chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and even some cancers. In CO, we spend just under $900 million a year on obesity-related medical costs. But obesity isn’t simply a health issue. It impacts multiple sectors within our society including education, business, economic development, planning and urban design, and local government. Therefore, a multi-sector approach is necessary to address this issue and reverse the trend pictured in this slide.
Many of you have heard that CO is consistently ranked as the leanest state in the nation. However, that is not cause for celebration. Nearly 20% of adults in our state are obese and around 50% of adults in CO are either overweight or obese. And, our children are doing much worse. CO is ranked 23rd for child obesity rates, having dropped from 3rd in the country just a few years ago.
LWC was formed to lead obesity prevention efforts in a collaborative and sustainable way. Our mission is to reduce obesity through the promotion of healthy eating and active living strategies. Our focus is on creating policy and environmental changes that result in increased access to opportunities for individuals to incorporate HEAL in their lives. Ultimately, we hope to shift our culture to one where the healthy choice is the easy choice.
Our three priority action strategies include policy initiatives at the local, state and federal level, as well as nonpublic policy such as worksite policies and school policies; marketing efforts to elevate the importance of obesity prevention and create that culture shift; and finally, community investments in strategies led by multi-sector coaltions at the local level.
