Two-thirds of adults and almost one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese, representing young and old, urban and rural, and majority and minority populations. This epidemic of excess weight is associated with major casues of chronic disease, disability, and death. Obesity-related illness is estimated to carry an annual cost of $190.2 billion.

Colorado has the lowest obesity rate in the nation at 20.5% of the population, with 760,000 obese adults. 23% of Colorado children (ages 2-14) are overweight or obest. With a ranking of 23rd in the nation, Colorado's childhood obesity rate is rising at the second-fastest rate of increase in the nation.