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The Daily Tar Heel

Orange County ranks high in healthy lifestyles survey

First in NC in health factors category

Orange County residents lead some of the healthiest lifestyles in the state, a recent survey said.

In a collaborative survey released March 31 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Orange County ranked first out of the state’s 100 counties in the health factors category.

This category provides information for the future health of the community by analyzing factors like access to clinics, health behaviors and living situations.

The county also ranked second after Wake County in the health outcomes category, which evaluates the area’s present health situation by looking at mortality and morbidity rates.

Angela Russell, associate researcher at the University of Wisconsin, said the survey covers locations across the country.
“It is like a big doctor’s checkup for an entire community,” she said.

Russell said studies like this show that it is not solely the role of medical departments to improve public health.

“Things that influence health mostly happen outside of the doctor’s office,” she said. “Where you live, work and play matter to your health.”

Data for the survey is acquired through a variety of national organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics.

Orange County Health Director Rosemary Summers attributes the county’s health success to its strong partnerships and agencies within the health department.

“We work on problems together, and we also have a great educational system,” Summers said.

The department has received a grant for the past seven years to further develop teen tobacco prevention programs. With the help of programs like this, Orange County Schools became one of the first systems in the state to have smoke-free campuses.

“When you have a well-educated population, you are going to have a healthier population,” she said.

Despite the high rankings, Summers said there is still room for improvement.

“Being in the top position is really great, but we have to keep in mind that we are in high positions in a state that is ranked 35th in the country,” she said.

The survey began two years ago and is conducted annually.

Donna King, Orange County’s health promotion and education services division director, said the health department looks forward to the annual release because it helps the county figure out what areas it needs to improve.

“We have great schools and a world-renowned university medical school and hospital in addition to Research Triangle Park right in our backyard,” King said.

“We can’t always meet every need or solve every problem, but we live in a community that will speak up and advocate for services and programs that promote an improved quality of life.”

Contact the City Editor at city@dailytarheel.com.

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