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For Immediate Release
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
McDonald’s – Rocky Mountain Region Partners With
Colorado Group to Address Obesity
Contact: Lori Maldonado
Public Information Specialist
(303) 692-2028
DENVER—McDonald’s Restaurants in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Region are the
most recent partner to enter the fight against obesity in Colorado,
joining the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s
Physical Activity and Nutrition Coalition to encourage people to eat
healthier and move more.
The coalition, dedicated to obesity prevention and control, represents
over 450 private and non-profit organizations that convene on a quarterly
basis to improve the health of Coloradans.
McDonald's was approached by the coalition for consideration as a new
member because of the corporation’s new emphasis on adding healthier food
to its restaurant menus.
Rachel Oys, director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment’s Physical Activity and Nutrition Program, said, “The new
partnership highlights the need to offer healthy choices and to promote
physical activity. The program looks forward to developing new
partnerships with other restaurants in the future to pilot programs that
promote healthy menu options and increase of fruits and vegetables
consumption.”
The newest partnership was recognized at a recent coalition meeting,
where Jay McAvoy, owner and operator of McDonald’s, Rocky Mountain Region,
said, “McDonald’s goal is to both educate and engage everyone in ways that
truly change individual behavior by helping children and adults achieve
better food and energy balance in their lives.”
Douglas H. Benevento, the executive director of the Department of Public
Health and Environment, said, “Colorado is taking a unique approach to
combat obesity by working with a broad range of organizations, including
restaurants, schools and work sites, to create healthy environments that
promote eating less and moving more.”
Oys said, “Colorado has had the lowest prevalence of obesity rates in
the United States for many years. These rates in recent years have
increased along with the rest of the country. However, for 2003,
Colorado’s prevalence of obesity declined from 16.5 percent in 2003 to 16
percent in 2004.
“This decline is good news and we are continuing to work to encourage
every Coloradan to live a healthy lifestyle and to keep Colorado the
leanest state in the nation.”
Colorado’s obesity rate was 14.9 percent in 2001 and 6.9 percent in
1990.
McDonald’s restaurants in the Rocky Mountain Region are located in:
Colorado Springs; Denver; Las Vegas; Nebraska; Phoenix; Salt Lake City;
Tucson; and Wyoming.
For more information about the Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition
Program, call (303) 692-2606.
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