How Colorado and Japan Combat Obesity Through Policy and Culture
Healthy food habit, particularly for children, often begin in the classroom
By: Daniel Yi
Abstract
This paper examines strategies implemented by Colorado and Japan to maintain low obesity rates, analyzing how their approaches can inform health and readiness initiatives in the military. Studies confirm that during early childhood, particularly before age five, the number and size of fat cells are heavily influenced by genetics and early diet (Spalding et al., 2008). Excess calories and poor diet during early childhood can increase fat cell number, which tends to remain constant throughout adulthood, making later weight management more difficult (Jo et al., 2009; Rosen & Spiegelman, 2014). While adults can reduce fat cell size through exercise and diet, the number of fat cells and their distribution generally don’t change, with the exception of cases of extreme obesity (Jo et al., 2009; Spalding et al., 2008). These findings emphasize the importance of establishing healthy habits early in life in order to prevent excessive fat cell development and support long-term wellness. Colorado's comprehensive, community-based programs, like the "Go, Slow, Whoa!" initiative and the Colorado Healthy People 2010 (HP2010) project, have effectively promoted healthy habits via school and community engagement. On the other hand, Japan's cultural practices, including Shokuiku and the principle of hara hachi bu, alongside policies such as the Metabo Law, have cultivated a culture of mindful eating and health accountability. By studying these models and practices, the Elite Athlete Model can work toward improving the health and readiness of current and future U.S. military members.
How Colorado and Japan Combat Obesity Through Policy and Culture
Colorado and Japan have adeptly upheld below-average obesity rates through structured early-life programming, community-driven behavior reinforcement, and systemic health policies. This paper analyzes their approaches and explores how these tactics can be used to enhance the health of military members and their families.
Colorado’s low obesity rates stem from comprehensive, community-based initiatives designed to instill lifelong healthy choices in individuals from an early age. One of these initiatives, the “Go, Slow, Whoa!” program in Aurora elementary schools, introduced a traffic-light based nutrition model (Jones, 2023). Foods tagged with a green apple symbol are “Go” foods. These include things such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins and were heavily encouraged. Alternatively, “Slow” and “Whoa” foods, marked with yellow and red circles respectively, were approached with moderation and caution. After implementation across multiple locations, student fruit and vegetable consumption increased from 50–75%, and their preference for low-fat milk over whole milk grew from 65% to 73%. A big strength of this program is its positive reinforcement approach: classifying foods under universally understood traffic-light visuals without labeling any item as inherently “bad.” This encourages nutritional autonomy and self-awareness in children, providing them with the tools and knowledge to make informed choices, rather than instilling guilt or fear. By integrating the model throughout classrooms and cafeterias, as well as involving parents and faculty, this program created an environment that promoted long-term behavioral change and normalized healthy eating.
Complementing school-based initiatives, Colorado’s Healthy People 2010 (HP2010) initiative showcased a widespread application of a socio-ecological model by addressing health at multiple levels: individual, interpersonal, and community (Colorado Trust, 2007). Between 2002 and 2007, with $8.7 million in funding, HP2010 supported 43 local projects across five regional agencies. Funding was diversely allocated, being distributed between school gardens, bilingual nutrition education, after-school fitness clubs, outdoor leadership programs and more. Community members, such as parents, educators, and local leaders, were a key part of the design and execution of these efforts, reinforcing the idea that health promotion and longevity requires shared responsibility and cultural significance. For example, the Lake County Outdoor Leadership Club, worked with middle and high school students, ages 11 to 18, pairing them with adult mentors for joint activities such as hiking, team sports, and search-and-rescue training. Not only did these programs teach healthy behaviors, they incorporated them into everyday life through consistent messaging and reinforcement across school, home and community settings.
HP2010 prioritized the long-term viability of its efforts by investing in local leadership, encouraging regular outcome tracking, and promoting community-driven adaptation rather than funding short-term programs. In addition to supporting implementation, technical assistance was given to train local organizers in collaborative planning and evaluation methods. This allowed communities to modify and improve their health initiatives over time to match changing local needs, without needing external support. By integrating health promotion into familiar environments, such as clubs, schools, and community organizations, HP2010 contributed to the reinforcement of healthy habits as a part of everyday life. Families, educators, and civic leaders all played a huge role in maintaining youth wellness and creating a multi-layered ecosystem of support, even after the conclusion of funding from HP2010.
Japan's model has maintained low obesity rates throughout generations through long-standing cultural practices and legislative frameworks. Central to this is Shokuiku, or "food education," which was enacted in 2005 and typically integrated into the school curriculum from early elementary through junior high; approximately ages 6–15 (Promotion of Shokuiko, 2019). Japanese schools view lunch as an extension of the classroom: a "living textbook." They provide freshly prepared meals made using seasonal and locally obtained ingredients. In order to promote respect, food literacy, and a sense of community, nutritionists manage the menus and supervise students as they serve, eat, and clean up (Ordo, 2025; Global Child Nutrition Foundation, 2024). According to evaluations conducted in Saitama Prefecture, more than 80% of classes implemented Shokuiku programs, and students' understanding of nutrition and how to plan balanced meals increased significantly (Eto et al., 2019).
Another fundamental component of Japan's healthy eating culture is hara hachi bu, or the practice of ending food until one feels about 80% full (Senauer & Gemma, 2006; Why are Japanese people so thin?, 2023). This idea, rooted in Okinawan and Confucian traditions, encourages portion control and awareness during eating. Children are formally introduced to this concept through Shokuiku and it’s reinforced via consistent practices in both households and schools. As students participate in group meals that prioritize mindful, leisurely eating, Hara hachi bu becomes more than just another rule or guideline; it becomes a normalized aspect of everyday life. By instilling these habits early and across multiple domains, the Japanese system establishes a sustainable environment where balanced eating practices are ingrained in society.
At a policy level, Japan's Metabo Law, officially enacted in 2008, requires adults between the ages of 40 and 74 to have their waist circumference measured annually as part of their routine health examinations. In order to encourage healthy lives and lower the risk of metabolic syndrome, individuals whose measures above predetermined thresholds, 85 cm for males and 90 cm for women, must undergo follow-up counseling (Martinez, 2025).
What distinguishes Japan’s approach is that individuals are not the only ones responsible for compliance; employers and local governments are responsible for guaranteeing participation and meeting reduction targets. Financial penalties could be imposed on organizations that don't achieve these standards, which strongly incentivizes institutional support and public-private cooperation. This system incorporates the prevention of obesity into the larger framework of municipal health governance and workplace wellness.
Colorado and Japan understand the pivotal role that early childhood nutrition and community engagement have in establishing lifelong healthy habits, which is essential for controlling obesity. Considering that fat cell number is largely established before age five and typically remains stable throughout life, early intervention via educational and cultural reinforcement is essential to long-term wellness. The Elite Athlete Model can support the military in creating a resilient and sustainably healthy force by adopting aspects of these proven approaches such as early habit formation, family and community involvement, accountability through policy, and elite athlete protocols.
References
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