Report scores 3,000 communities on health-related issues
Earlier this year, Douglas County, Colorado, was tapped as the healthiest community in the country, moving up from its previous spot at No. 2.
“We give all the credit to our citizens for their healthy choices,” Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas told The Nation’s Health.
In March, U.S. News & World Report and the Aetna Foundation released their second annual Healthiest Communities report, evaluating nearly 3,000 U.S. communities across 81 health-related metrics in 10 categories, ultimately putting Douglas County in the top spot.
Following the Colorado community in the top five were Los Alamos County, New Mexico; the city of Falls Church, Virginia; Loudoun County, Virginia; and Broomfield County, Colorado. Seven Colorado communities ranked among the top 20, while Iowa had the biggest presence in the rankings, with 62 counties making the top 500.
To read the full report written by Kim Krisberg, click HERE
The 2019 Healthiest Communities report scored the nearly 3,000 communities on a wide range of metrics related to health conditions and behaviors, health equity and social determinants of health. Just a few examples include rates of cancer, heart disease and smoking; number of available primary care doctors; racial disparities in income and education; exposure to unsafe air or drinking water; voter participation; housing affordability; and access to large grocery stores. Overall, of the 81 metrics used, researchers found that smoking and diabetes prevalence had the strongest correlation to life expectancy.
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