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The obesity rate in Colorado posted a slight increase over last year, but the state is still the leanest in the nation, according to a report released yesterday.

That being said, Colorado health experts say the annual report by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation should be considered alarming, for if the state continues increasing in the obesity category, it might soon find itself kicked out of the exclusive leanest state in America club.

The percentage of obese adults in Colorado climbed to 18.9 percent, an increase over last year’s number of 18.4 percent. The state still comes nowhere close to most Southern states, such as Mississippi, which had the highest adult obesity rate at 32.5 percent, as well as West Virginia, at 31.2 percent; Alabama, at 31.1 percent; and Tennessee, at 30.2 percent. Eight of the 10 states with the highest percentage of obese adults are in the South.

Karen DeLeeuw, director of the state’s Center for Healthy Living, says the report actually only touches upon the obesity epidemic in Colorado. In fact, over 55 percent of adults in Colorado are either obese or overweight, and 30 percent of children are obese or overweight, she said.

Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and did not decrease in a single state in the past year, according to the “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America” report.

Former Denver Bronco Bill “Romo” Romanowski, now the founder and chief executive of Nutrition53, a California-based nutritional supplement company, told the Denver Daily News yesterday that part of the problem is a lack of emphasis on physical education in schools.

“One of the big issues we have is that our kids are spending too much time on computers and video games, they need to get out and get active,” he said. “In our school districts, gym is becoming an elective. I remember all through school, gym was a requirement, everybody was in gym class. Now, more and more, there’s just so many different options.”

The former Pro Bowl linebacker says he is concerned by the impact the recession is having on people’s eating habits, noting that more and more people are eating fast food instead of cooking healthy meals. He says having a busy schedule is also no excuse, adding that his company produces a nutritional supplement, Lean1, which is a weight loss supplement shake that includes organic fruit and vegetable extracts, fiber, protein and healthy fats.

Never too late to get fit

Former Mr. America, Tom Terwilliger, who is now a Denver-based fitness and “body rapport” expert, says the best thing people can do to fight obesity is to simply stay fit. And if they’re not currently fit, it’s never too late to start, he said.

“Part of the symptom right now is that people are, from what I’m seeing, they’re doing a little less right now than they were,” said Terwilliger. “They’re spending more time in front of the television, and they’re spending more time at home.”

The report released yesterday points to the economic crisis as a contributing factor. Terwilliger agrees, pointing out that in his fitness community, trainers and gyms are seeing a decrease in participation and membership by as much as 25 percent.

But he says the economy should not be considered an excuse, adding that it doesn’t cost money to go out during lunch and take a walk, or perform yoga at home, or ride a bike up into the mountains.

“It has to be a priority, because those other things suffer, particularly during these times of stressful economic challenges,” said Terwilliger. “The body will start to succumb to those stress symptoms, it manifests in the physiology. So, if you don’t exercise and you don’t eat right, that stress starts to build up and will eventually come around and slap you right in the face.”

Obesity rate doubled since ’95

Maren Stewart, president and chief executive of LiveWell Colorado, a nonprofit dedicated to healthy living that recently launched a five-year program to reduce obesity, pointed out that Colorado’s obesity rate has more than doubled since 1995. She says that puts a large percentage of the population at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and asthma.

“Obesity is the single greatest health threat to our nation,” she said. “It is our responsibility to take action.”

LiveWell Colorado’s campaign will include education, as well as public policy initiatives as part of its fight.

Meanwhile, DeLeeuw simply encourages adults to get out with their children as part of the fight against obesity.

“Colorado is so great because there are so many parks, and walking trails, and playgrounds, and things like that,” she said. “So, to parents I would say, just get outside and play with your kids. You need to be active and enjoy what the state has to offer.”

FITNESS CONTACTS:

• Terwilliger Fitness — TerwilligerFitness.com, 303-404-9241

• Nutrition53 — Nutrition53.com

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