Thursday morning, The Colorado Health Foundation released the findings of this year's Health Report Card. The report card has a lot of information about our state's health, but here's the most pressing headline having to do with our weight.
For the first time ever, Colorado does not have the distinction of being the only state with an obesity rate under 20 percent.
Colorado is still considered the "leanest" state in the nation but our obesity rate rose by 3 percent just within the past year. And now, 22 percent of the people in Colorado are now considered "obese."
The "Colorado Health Foundation" has 37 other health indicators in its report. They cover everything from proper diet - to smoking rates - and blood pressure. Areas where we need the most improvement, include dental and prenatal care.
All of this - especially the state's rising obesity rate - actually is a burden on the Colorado economy.
"Obesity costs the state of colorado about $1.6 billion. That's lost productivity, that's more health-insurance claims, that's more sick care that having to be delivered. We can save that kind of money if we invest. But the key is you have to invest in prevention. Sometimes that's a hard pill for people to swallow because you are investing upfront ... for a long-term payoff," CEO of Colorado Health Foundation Anne Warhover said.
On a positive note, Colorado ranked as one of the lowest states in the nation for "infant mortality" We also ranked first for the percentage of kids eating well-balanced diets.
To read the full report, visit http://www.coloradohealthreportcard.org/reportcard/2011/default.aspx
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