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.