Every morning it seems like I hear from another child who just can’t wait for the last day of school to arrive. Summer is often a time of adventure. It’s also a natural time to talk about the health of Colorado’s kids.
Many of us have gotten used to our state being referred to as the healthiest state in the country. But our children are lagging behind. Just a few weeks ago, the Colorado Health Foundation released its Health Report Card, which gave Colorado a D-plus grade for healthy children. Colorado ranks 23rd out of all states for childhood obesity. Today, 24 percent of Larimer County youths are overweight or obese. We are headed down a precarious path. But while these data may seem insurmountable, there are small steps families can take to engage their kids in active living.