© 2024
NPR for Northern Colorado
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

National Survey Breaks Down the Health of Colorado Counties

Creative Commons

For the second year in row the County Health Rankings survey examined health factors in all 50 states with a county by county breakdown.

Smoking, adult obesity and high school graduation rates are factored into the annual study which reveals many common trends. Suburban counties are among the healthiest nationally while rural counties typically rank lower.

“These communities often have high rates of obesity, fewer primary care providers or high rates of unemployment,” says Patrick Remington who’s Associate Dean of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Douglas is the Colorado’s healthiest county while Huerfano County in the southern part of the state is the least healthy. The premature death rate in the county, for example, is three times that of Douglas County. Larimer, Boulder and Summit counties also top Colorado’s healthy list.

The survey was also conducted with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Report authors hope the findings will bring together all sectors from government to public health to find solutions and make policy that significantly improves health.

Email: brian.larson@kunc.org