The Metro Denver Health and Wellness Commission, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Barbara O’Brien, is a coalition of nearly 80 community leaders from government, non-profit organizations, business, and education. In June 2006, the commission identified its goals for the 2006-07 planning year: develop and adopt a strategic plan; build organizational capacity; and create this first Metro Denver 2007: A Report on the Health & Wellness of Our Community report.
Despite the fact that the metro area has relatively low obesity rates, we are in a negative trend. Before this trend can be reversed, it needs to be stopped. Combating obesity means more than just helping people lose weight. It means changing people’s behaviors and lifestyles and creating both a culture and environment that support healthy lifestyle choices. Th is takes time—and the commission’s long-term goals reflect the challenges that lie ahead: Maintain the percentage of residents who are healthy weight by 2012; and Increase percentage of healthy weight residents by 2017.
Metro Denver 2007: A Report on the Health & Wellness of Our Community was created as a baseline against which to measure the outcomes of these goals. How does the metro area measure up in terms of health and wellness?