Jul 23, 2007 2:57 pm US/Mountain
Metro Denver Ranked Among Healthiest Cities
DENVER (CBS4) ―
People who live in the Denver metro area boast the best average health ranking among 25 comparable metropolitan areas, according to a report released Monday by The Metro Denver Health & Wellness Commission.
The report was compiled from a variety of local, state and other public health and economic sources.
'Metro Denver 2007: A Report on the Health & Wellness of Our Community' showed the Denver metro area had the highest average ranking when comparing eight health indicators to those of citizens in 24 similar U.S. cities.
The eight indicators include physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, health care coverage, overweight and obesity rates, limitations on activities due to health and prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and asthma. The Denver area has the lowest percentage of adults with diabetes and second lowest percentage of overweight/obese adults - the San Francisco metro area squeezed into first place for lowest rate of overweight or obese residents.
Compared with the other 24 metro areas, Metro Denver ranks in the top half of all but one of the indicators: prevalence of asthma - where Denver ranks 18th.
"This report showcases the results of our continued commitment to being a healthy community," said Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, chair of The Metro Denver Health & Wellness Commission. "However, we shouldn't celebrate too much, as our growing waistlines are expanding to levels of concern. Fortunately, we are in a better position than other regions to address the problem because of the on-going work of entities like the MDHWC."
Despite the impressive rankings and its overall first place position, metro Denver residents are adding pounds quickly. Adults at a healthy weight dropped 9.2 percent between 1995 and 2005. Nearly 54 percent of the region's adults were overweight or obese in 2005.
Denver area adults also are just as likely to die of heart disease or to have cancer as the rest of the state or nation.
(© MMVII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments