HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution-2006-0016
RESOLUTION No. 16
Series of 2006
TITLE: SUPPORT of THRIVING WHEAT RIDGE's Healthy Eating and Active
Living (HEAL) Program: Declaring Obesity to be a Serious Threat to the Health
and Well-Being of Wheat Ridge Citizens
WHEREAS, public health officials have declared obesity to be an epidemic, and over 53
percent of Coloradan adults are either obese or overweightl and approximately 29 rercent
of Colorado children (ages 2 to 14) are overweight or at risk for being overweight; and
WHEREAS, obesity plays a role m the leading causes of preventable death and disability,
including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma, hypertension, osteoarthritis, I
and reduces life expectancy and increases health care costs, and
WHEREAS, overweight and obesity disproportionately affects racial and ethmc minorities
(Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Amencans) and persons oflower socioeconomic status; 3
and
WHEREAS, the underlying contributors to obeSity are limited to a number of health-
damagmg behaviors practiced by people on a daily basis, including unhealthy eatmg
habits and physical inactivity; 4 and
WHEREAS, the prevalence of calorie-dense and nutnent-light food, television, video
games, and computer use have created an epidemiC of pediatnc obesity; 5 and
WHEREAS, 25 percent of adult Coloradans eat the recommended amounts of fruits and
vegetables per day I ,and 36 percent of children ages one - 14 ate fruit two or more times
per day and five percent ate vegetables three or more times per dal, and
WHEREAS, 41 percent of Colorado adults meet the recommended guidelines for
moderate physical activity I and 29 percent of Colorado children five to 14 walk or bike to
school at least one day a week2, and Coloradans spend approximately 71 minutes per day
in cars6; and
WHEREAS, 70 percent of Colorado parents of school age children strongly support
changing beverage and food/snack content to healthier choices m school vending
machines;2 and
WHEREAS, communities across the country engage in active living policies and programs
and that active living policies and programs have a direct Impact on the quality of life,
economic development and sustainability in communities, and
WHEREAS, "a wa1kab1e community IS the cornerstone to an active and thriving
community,,7, the elderly and people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by a
lack of sidewalks and depressed curbs;
WHEREAS, Kaiser Permanente and its partners, the Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment, America on the Move in Colorado, and Kroenke Sports
Enterprises, believe that supporting communities implementing evidenced-based healthy
eating active living (HEAL) actIVIties shows the most promise in curbing the obesity
epidemic, and has funded such a project in Wheat Ridge;
AND WHEREAS, III conjunction with National Public Health Week, April 3 - 9,2006,
the American Public Health Association encourages all commumties to Improve the built
environment to improve health;
Now, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT the City of Wheat Ridge'
1. Acknowledges that the responsibility of healthy behavior is not solely relegated to
individuals, but requires the support of healthy environments achieved through a
broad-based approach to address the preventable causes of chronic disease.
2. Supports the notion that indiVidual habits related to diet and physical activity are
established early III life and tend to persist through adulthood.
3 Agrees that actIOn must be taken, espeCially on behalf of children and youth, in
order to avoid harmful effects that will undermine their health and their future.
4. Supports a strong collaboration With the Thriving Wheat Ridge program in its
efforts to create programs, develop and encourage policies and practices that
facilitate HEAL by ItS citizens, buslllesses, CIVIC organizations, and associations.
5. Supports the objectives of the ThrIVIng Wheat Ridge program to address obesity
and overweight and improve wellness through community-wide campaigns,
review of master plans, school-based health and phYSical education, '.point of
deCision" prompts, Improved access to places and occasions for phYSical activity
and healthy food chOices, informatIOn out-reach activities, and sustainable land
use planmng and commumty design.
6. Supports environmental interventions such as. walk and bike to schools or
worksite Day' s; Sidewalk projects; pedestrian-safety provIsions (pedestrian
signals, crosswalks, or curb ramps/cuts); community gardens; bicycle facilities
(bike lanes, bike storage), streetscapes and public art to make walks more
beautiful, comfortable, and interesting; and improved street lighting and
surveillance to Illcrease safety and security
7. Encourages the entire community, including public and private agencies,
busmesses, health care providers, schools, parents, and community organizations
to support poliCies and practices that encourages HEAL.
DONE AND RESOLVED this 10th
day of April, 2006
A Tl EST
(-~~) ~
~rAnde
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I. Health Statistics Section and Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program,
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Obesity and Overweight
Among Colorado Adults, April, 2005
2. Health Statistics Section and Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program,
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Overweight. Physical
Activity and Nutrition Among Colorado Children and Youth: A Data Resource,
October, 2005
3. American Obesity AssociatIOn. AOA Fact Sheet
hap.! /W'W \\ .obeslt\ .org/subs/fastfacts/aoafactsheets.html
4. NatIOnal AssociatIOn of City and County Health Officials ResolutIOn 04-05 Resolution
Promoting Conditions that Foster Healthy Behaviors
5. PediatriacObesity.com Helpmg Parents Raise Healthy Children,
hap.!/wwv.. pediatncobesll\ .com
6. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic Safety Facts 2001,
Pedestrian. hap..! /wwwnrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdfinrd-
30/NCSA/TSf200 I /200 I pedestnan.pdf
7. City and County of Broomtield Comprehensive Plan, page 32.