Reprinted from the Health District's quarterly publication mailed to district residents (Spring 2002)

We pride ourselves on being health-conscious, outdoorsy types in Colorado. Yes, our climate and mountains inspire us. But a recent local health survey paints a less scenic portrait: A growing number of us are overweight or obese.

It is true that the scale tips in Colorado’s favor when it comes to having the fewest people with a weight problem in the country. That’s the good news.

But a community health checkup initiated by the Health District reveals a disturbing trend.

"Fort Collins is beginning to look a little more like the rest of the country when it comes to weight," says Dr. Bruce Cooper, medical director for the Health District.

Both the numbers of local people who are overweight and those who are obese, according to the survey, have increased 4 percentage points from 1995, mirroring a national trend for that period. Overweight is defined as having a body mass index of 25-29, while obese is having a BMI of 30 or greater (see article on calculating BMI).

Left unchecked, obesity can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and a host of heart problems.

Many factors contribute to obesity: diet, physical activity, culture and lifestyle.

Take a recent U.S. study (need source) that reports Americans are eating foods with fewer calories and fat, but they’re still gaining weight judging by their BMI scores. Why? Because food is just one component in weight management.

"A lot of people, when they think of weight, think diet," Dr. Cooper says.

But dieting without increasing your physical activity lowers your resting metabolic rate, meaning you burn fewer calories even when you’re not exerting yourself, and the weight loss is usually short-lived, he says.

"Energy expenditure is an integral part of the equation," he says.

"It has to be a family initiative. You can’t have the kids taking apples for lunch and you (the parent) take Cheetos," says Dr. Deborah Thompson, a family physician currently at the Health District as part of her preventive medicine residency through the University of Colorado, Denver.

So, where do we start addressing obesity? Changes, says Dr. Cooper, must be made in policymaking, including how we approach physical education in schools (see related story), and public education. Health educators and dietitians, not just physicians, need to be involved as well, he says.

"Everyone knows there are no simple solutions to obesity," says Dr. Cooper.

Societal pressures add to the burden. Unrealistic ideals about body image and eating feed our obsession with food, says Jane Welzel, a licensed professional counselor in Fort Collins who specializes in treating people with eating disorders.

Too much emphasis is placed on attaining a certain weight often for the wrong reasons, such as expecting to find complete happiness, she says. The attention needs to shift from the negative — dieting and deprivation — to the positive — achieving a healthy lifestyle.

"Instead of focusing on the number (of pounds you want to weigh), ask what do you want to be able to do that you can’t do now (like exercising or playing with your kids)," Welzel suggests.

Genetics play a role in body shape, too. And while you can sculpt your figure with diet and exercise, the model-thin bodies often promoted in advertising aren’t possible or even healthy for most of us, she says.

Then there is our need for speed — from what we expect from our computers to how much time we have to make dinner. We seem to slow down only for "sit-down" entertainment such as watching television.

"You can just about drive-thru anything — from banking to fast food," says Dr. Thompson.

Dianne Moeller, who helps people improve their eating habits, couldn’t agree more.

Recognizing our fast-paced lifestyle, Moeller, a registered dietitian at Health Bridge, adapts her health education efforts accordingly.

Her low-cost cooking classes focus on meals that are nutritious, easy, inexpensive and use ingredients that are readily available.

Likewise, when she counsels a client about nutrition, she looks to identify doable changes that fit the person’s busy schedule. Through Healthy Weighs, a nondiet weight management program, she focuses on improving health, even if weight loss is not the initial or most dramatic result.

The key to healthy eating, says Moeller, is setting realistic goals, and building on your successes.

"People are looking for a quick fix, the magic bullet. Good, solid nutrition isn’t going to sell books," she says. "We need to change our priorities at a societal level and a personal level."