We often hear that a third of Americans are obesenot just a few pounds overweight but heavy enough to put their health at risk. However, one stateColoradohas bucked the trend. It's the leanest state in the nation, but it's not because of something in the air or the water. It's the perfect interplay among diet, activity, and environment. The Colorado Dietbreaks down the elements of this healthy lifestyle and step-by-step explains how to recreate it anywhere. Weight loss and weight maintenance are different processes; it's best to tackle them separately. If during the weight loss phase nothing is done to correct a faulty metabolism, weight regain is inevitable. The Colorado Dietfeatures a 7-week plan that rebuilds metabolism and leads to quick weight loss. This is followed by another 7-week plan that shows readers how to match their diet to their revamped metabolism to achieve long-term leanness. With a new, flexible metabolism, readers will be able to enjoy food without constantly worrying about their weight. Plus, the authors show readers how to make their home and relationships more weight-loss friendly. They also explain that changes in diet and activity level can actually change the brain and attitude. That change feeds the new healthy lifestyle, supplying readers with the motivation and the energy to stay fitter, stronger, and leaner for life.

James O. Hill is executive director of the Anschutz Center for Health and Wellness at the University of Colorado and the author of The Step Diet: Count Steps, Not Calories to Lose Weight and Keep It off Forever. He and Dr. Wyatt co-founded the National Weight Control Registry. He lives in Denver, CO.

Holly Wyatt, the Anschutz Center's associate director, is a physician and clinical researcher at the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado and the national director for the Centers for Obesity Research and Education. She lives in Denver, CO.