OREM — Forget the brownie. Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon would rather take the veggies.

Corroon snubbed the chocolate treat at a reception Monday, minutes after he delivered a speech titled "Where Have All Our Children Gone? Ethical Issues in Health and Obesity" at Utah Valley State College.

The Salt Lake County mayor is so passionate about childhood obesity that he took his message across county lines, all the way to Cougar country.

"Obesity is one of the greatest threats to this generation's future," Corroon said. "We have an epidemic, but it is going unnoticed by most policymakers and many parents."

Approximately 25 million children nationwide are now either obese or overweight. In Utah alone, 1 in 4 children are overweight, and nearly 10 percent of all Utah children are classified as obese, according to Primary Children's Medical Center.

In Salt Lake County, 58 percent of county residents are overweight and obese, and 46.5 percent are not adequately physically active, according to the county health department.

Corroon blamed the "epidemic" on a lack of physical activity combined with poor eating choices.

The consequences of an obese lifestyle include diabetes, hypertension and attention disorders, he said.

"Diabetes and hypertension are not traditionally considered children's' diseases," Corroon said. "They were diseases a handful of adults had. But today, it is not unnatural to see children with these diseases."

The mayor is in the middle of his own battle of the bulge and has dropped 30 pounds over the past two years. "Children learn their behavior from their parents," Corroon said.

Corroon is also leading the charge across Salt Lake County to whip kids into shape.

He ordered that all candy and sweetened soda be removed from county recreation centers. "Some people aren't very happy about it." The vending machines there still stock diet soda and sports drinks, but "even those products that we still have are still somewhat unhealthy."

Corroon is also encouraging county employees to stay fit through health incentive programs.

On Monday he wrapped up his "Weight Active and Healthy" anti-obesity campaign. The eight-week program encouraged participants to do at least thirty minutes of exercise four days or more per week.

The goal of the program was to raise awareness about the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle. In addition, county leaders hoped to encourage long-term habits of physical activity and healthy eating, and provide fun ways to enjoy the numerous parks, recreation facilities, trails and outdoor activities available in Salt Lake County.

"I can see how our lifestyles are leading us down this path to personal destruction," Corroon said. "It is time for our children to break those chains to their electronic gadgets and live outdoors a little."

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com