The Southeast has long suffered from higher rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses than in other areas of the country. But some counties here in Georgia are healthier than others.
A new study out this week ranks the health of nearly every county in the Peach State and across the U.S. The annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps project was created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and provides a snapshot of a community's overall health. It looks at health measures, such as rates of obesity and smoking, access to medical care, long commute times and sexually transmitted diseases.
Here are the 10 healthiest counties in Georgia with a few key measures from the rankings.
10. Coweta County
- 14 percent – Percentage of people who say their health is poor or fair, compared with 17 percent overall statewide
- 27 percent – Percentage of adults who are obese, compared with 29 percent statewide
- 2,220 – Number of residents per every one primary care physician, compared with a ratio of 1,540:1 statewide
- 46 percent – Percentage of workers who drive long commutes along, compared with 39 percent statewide
Find out more about how healthy Coweta County is here.
9. Paulding County
- 14 percent – Percentage of people who say their health is poor or fair, compared with 17 percent overall statewide
- 28 percent – Percentage of adults who are obese, compared with 29 percent statewide
- 7,730 – Number of residents per every one primary care physician, compared with a ratio of 1,540:1 statewide
- 64 percent – Percentage of workers who drive long commutes along, compared with 39 percent statewide
Find out more about how healthy Paulding County is here.
8. Columbia County
- 13 percent – Percentage of people who say their health is poor or fair, compared with 17 percent overall statewide
- 29 percent – Percentage of adults who are obese, compared with 29 percent statewide
- 890 – Number of residents per every one primary care physician, compared with a ratio of 1,540:1 statewide
- 30 percent – Percentage of workers who drive long commutes along, compared with 39 percent statewide
Find out more about how healthy Columbia County is here.
7. Cobb County
- 14 percent – Percentage of people who say their health is poor or fair, compared with 17 percent overall statewide
- 22 percent – Percentage of adults who are obese, compared with 29 percent statewide
- 1,430 – Number of residents per every one primary care physician, compared with a ratio of 1,540:1 statewide
- 50 percent – Percentage of workers who drive long commutes along, compared with 39 percent statewide
Find out more about how healthy Cobb County is here.
6. Cherokee County
- 13 percent – Percentage of people who say their health is poor or fair, compared with 17 percent overall statewide
- 26 percent – Percentage of adults who are obese, compared with 29 percent statewide
- 2,920 – Number of residents per every one primary care physician, compared with a ratio of 1,540:1 statewide
- 53 percent – Percentage of workers who drive long commutes along, compared with 39 percent statewide
Find out more about how healthy Cherokee County is here.
5. Gwinnett County
- 15 percent – Percentage of people who say their health is poor or fair, compared with 17 percent overall statewide
- 27 percent – Percentage of adults who are obese, compared with 29 percent statewide
- 1,700 – Number of residents per every one primary care physician, compared with a ratio of 1,540:1 statewide
- 53 percent – Percentage of workers who drive long commutes along, compared with 39 percent statewide
Find out more about how healthy Gwinnett County is here.
4. Harris County
- 12 percent – Percentage of people who say their health is poor or fair, compared with 17 percent overall statewide
- 30 percent – Percentage of adults who are obese, compared with 29 percent statewide
- 1,630 – Number of residents per every one primary care physician, compared with a ratio of 1,540:1 statewide
- 40 percent – Percentage of workers who drive long commutes along, compared with 39 percent statewide
Find out more about how healthy Harris County is here.
3. Fayette County
- 12 percent – Percentage of people who say their health is poor or fair, compared with 17 percent overall statewide
- 29 percent – Percentage of adults who are obese, compared with 29 percent statewide
- 910 – Number of residents per every one primary care physician, compared with a ratio of 1,540:1 statewide
- 48 percent – Percentage of workers who drive long commutes along, compared with 39 percent statewide
Find out more about how healthy Fayette County is here.
2. Oconee County
- 11 percent – Percentage of people who say their health is poor or fair, compared with 17 percent overall statewide
- 31 percent – Percentage of adults who are obese, compared with 29 percent statewide
- 810 – Number of residents per every one primary care physician, compared with a ratio of 1,540:1 statewide
- 25 percent – Percentage of workers who drive long commutes along, compared with 39 percent statewide
Find out more about how healthy Oconee County is here.
1. Forsyth County
- 12 percent – Percentage of people who say their health is poor or fair, compared with 17 percent overall statewide
- 26 percent – Percentage of adults who are obese, compared with 29 percent statewide
- 2,350 – Number of residents per every one primary care physician, compared with a ratio of 1,540:1 statewide
- 48 percent – Percentage of workers who drive long commutes along, compared with 39 percent statewide
Find out more about how healthy Forsyth County is here.
About the rankings
These rankings were compiled using more than 20 sources of data, such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. (You can read more about the methods used to develop the rankings here.)
You can also explore the data for your own county here or use our interactive map showing every Georgia county.
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