In 2004, the state’s childhood obesity rate was 14.8 percent. Ten years later, that rate went down to 14.6 percent, according to the Colorado Child Health Survey.
That's prompted the state health department to declare the rate unchanged.
Currently, nearly a third of Colorado toddlers, that’s children aged 2 to 4, are overweight or obese, according to the survey. Childhood obesity increases the risk of a variety of future health problems, like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and some cancers.
Dr. Larry Wolk, the state’s chief medical officer, warns that unless the rate begins to decline, the next generation of Coloradans may not be the nation’s leanest.
