A report by the Campaign to End Obesity suggests using a 25-year budget window instead of the frequently used ten-year period. This would more appropriately and effectively capture the potential cost benefits of obesity-prevention measures, the campaign argues.
Addressing obesity requires medical and behavioral interventions as well as school-based efforts, community engagement and public policies to create environments that promote healthy eating and active living. The return on investment for these initiatives will take years even as policymakers face immediate demands to balance budgets and address constituent concerns.
If we’re going to make progress on changing Colorado’s obesity rate trajectory - which topped the 20 percent level for the first time in 2010 - we need to take the long view. And that requires courage and commitment, regardless of political pressures or competing priorities.