A nonprofit backed by $34.1 million aims to reverse weight gain and increase fitness among Colorado residents over the next five years.

Funded by $17.1 million from the Colorado Health Foundation, $16 million from Kaiser Permanente and $1 million from the Kresge Foundation, LiveWell Colorado is the only standalone nonprofit in the state dedicated to fighting obesity, LiveWell chief executive Maren Stewart said Thursday.

“We have a laser focus,” Stewart said. “We’re ready to put words into action and measure what we accomplish.”

With a well-connected board of directors from academia, business, politics and health care, the nonprofit will coordinate, streamline and promote obesity-prevention programs statewide.

While Colorado still ranks as the fittest state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the obesity rate has doubled since 1995 and 19 percent of adults here are obese, Stewart said.

LiveWell began in January 2007 as a joint effort of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Colorado Health Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

Kristen Browning-Blas: 303-954-1440 or kbrowning@denverpost.com

Focus on healthy food and active living

LiveWell’s “laser focus” aims at the following areas:

Promoting awareness of healthy eating and active living among families, schools and communities.

Addressing the lack of fresh and healthy foods in poor neighborhoods. Coloradans earning above $75,000 a year had a 16 percent obesity rate, while nearly a quarter of those making below $25,000 are obese.

Analyzing healthy eating and active-living policies, or lack thereof, across the state. Lobbying for walkable streets, school fitness programs and safe, accessible parks.