Fitness Secrets from Nation's Thinnest State

Aug. 27, 2005 — -- Where you live could have a huge impact on the size of your waistline.

Colorado is the leanest state, where only 16.8 percent of the population is obese, according to a recent report from the Trust for America's Health, a health advoacy organization.

Mississippi, however, weighed in as the heaviest state, with 29.5 percent of the population suffering from obesity.

So, how does Colorado stay so thin? The dramatic landscape and the wonderful weather -- 300 days of sunshine a year -- play a big role.

"It's the altitude and the attitude," said Stacy Fowler, president of the Colorado Governor's Council on Physical Fitness.

"We live in a vacation land out here," she added. "It's so beautiful, why would you want to stay inside? There's so much to do from hiking and fishing to skiing and snowshoeing. There's something for everybody."

Fowler has advice that can even help those who don't live in the gorgeous Rocky Mountains.

"Put on a pedometer," she said. "Get out and get moving, because that's what Colorado does."

"You should be getting 10,000 steps a day," she added. "There's a difference between being busy and moving. Get up and walk to someone's cubicle. When you go to Target, park as far [as you can] from the door. You can get in an extra 500 steps."

Even though Colorado has the lowest percentage of obese people, there still is room for improvement.

"We're the fittest state, but we want obesity rates to go down to less than 15 percent," Fowler said.

With today's eating habits, that's no simple task.

"Every single state, except for Oregon, increased their obesity rate this past year," said Dr. Shelly Hearne, executive director of Trust for America's Health.