Can Colorado be the Healthiest State?

The Governor of Colorado, concerned about the growing problem of obesity in his state, issued a challenge to his citizens to become the healthiest state in the nation. In an article in The Atlantic, Governor John Hickenlooper said, "We can be hopeful about our future. We can be bold. We will come through this rough time because we have emerged from rough times before -- because we are resilient and undaunted. We'll do it by working together in the best tradition of the West. Like every river runner knows, when you get into rough water, everybody paddles." The Atlantic article concludes by saying that if Hickenlooper is successful perhaps the rest of the nation will follow its lead.

Colorado? Really? Why not North Carolina? Weren’t we first in freedom, first in flight? Why can’t we be first in being healthier? But we’ve got work to do.

Our state ranks 33^rd in nation in health care indicators. We rank 5^th in obesity, with 66 percent of our adults and 28 percent of our children overweight or obese. Nearly one in three adults has high blood pressure, one in ten has diabetes, and four in ten report high cholesterol. 17 percent of our families report food insecurity and we are tenth in the nation for children under 18 who worry about having enough to eat. 1.5 million people in our state have no health insurance and, for many of them,  the first option for medical treatment is the emergency department…the most expensive and one of the most profitable departments in a hospital.

It is time we came together and did something to improve our health…and bring down the costs of healthcare. Are you willing to join in a statewide effort to build A Healthier NC? Let us hear from you.