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Friday, Feb. 7, 2025

Is Colorado one of the slimmest states in the U.S.? 

Por Jaijongkit, The Colorado Sun
yes

Around 24.9% of adults in Colorado are obese, the second-lowest rate in the U.S., according 2021-2023 data. Only Washington, D.C., had a lower obesity rate, at 23.5%. 

Obesity is defined as a body mass index, or BMI, above 30 while severe obesity is a BMI over 40. Prior to 2013 no state had an obesity rate of 35% or higher. By 2023, 23 states fell into that category, while severe obesity rose to 9.7% from 7.7% during that period. More than 2 in 5 adults in the U.S. are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Obesity disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic communities, national studies show. A 2018 study identified a range of factors contributing to that trend, including low household income, the high cost of maintaining a healthy diet, lack of access to recreational resources, stress, genetics and discrimination. 

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The Colorado Sun is a journalist-founded, award-winning and nonprofit news outlet based in Denver that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better understand itself. In this way, we believe we can contribute to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado. We are committed to fact-based, in-depth and nonpartisan journalism. We cover everything from politics and culture to the outdoor industry and education. Our goal is to produce the best possible journalism. We do that with the help of you, our readers, and community backers. We launched on Sept. 10, 2018.

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