Colorado's Climate, Landscape Helps Residents Stay Fit

In the Centennial State, health and fitness are an ongoing priority.

ByABC News
January 8, 2009, 1:03 AM

Aug. 28, 2007 — -- For a state with a lieutenant governor who wears a pedometer to track the number of steps she takes each day, it's not much of a surprise that the exercise-obsessed state of Colorado is considered the fittest in the nation by the Trust for America's health.

Colorado leads the list of states with the lowest obesity ranking for the fourth year in a row, according to the organization, which examines obesity in the United States, and calls for more government action to fight the epidemic.

Just 17.6 percent of Colorado residents are obese, according to the study.

"Factors like a built-in environment sidewalks, parks, public spaces and affordable recreations are leaning in Colorado's favor," said Laura Segal, a spokeswoman for the Trust for America's Health. "Colorado is known for being a little more active than other states."

Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut also have low percentages of obese residents.

Less lucky are the states that scored a spot on the list of most obese states, like Mississippi 30 percent of its residents are obese and West Virginia.

In addition to other factors that contribute to obesity, such as genetic predisposition and poverty levels, states' levels of physical activity were found to be directly related to their obesity rankings, according to the report.

Mississippi, which is No. 1 on the list of most obese states, was ranked not only as the most poverty-stricken state, but also one of the least physically active.

Colorado, on the other hand, was high on the list of physically active states.

To Colorado's Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, the state's latest health ranking comes as no surprise.

"It happened because of the culture of Colorado," O'Brien told ABC News. "We are a fit state because there is a big emphasis on getting out on the weekends and going hiking and biking."

Colorado has, on average, 300 days of sunshine each year, and Denver boasts the largest city park system in the country, with more than 200 parks in the city and 20,000 acres of parks in the outer areas, according to the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.