TUESDAY, March 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The 2019 healthiest community in America is Douglas County, Colorado, according to a report published online March 26 by U.S. News & World Report, in conjunction with the Aetna Foundation.
Nearly 3,000 communities nationwide were assessed across 81 metrics in 10 categories, ranging from education and population health to infrastructure and environment.
According to the report, the top five healthiest communities scored above the national average in all 10 categories; these communities included Douglas County in Colorado, Los Alamos County in New Mexico, Falls Church City in Virginia, Loudoun County in Virginia, and Broomfield County in Colorado. Seven communities in Colorado ranked among the top 20; in these counties, nearly all adults exercise and only about one in four missed their annual wellness checkup. Colorado also had the highest average score in the environment category. The strongest presence in the healthiest communities ranking overall was seen for Iowa, with 62 counties ranking among the top 500. Of the metrics included in the analysis, the strongest correlations to life expectancy were seen for diabetes prevalence and smoking rate.
“The healthiest communities rankings continue to provide the insights that are essential to identify key issues and support community organizations, leaders, and residents who are tackling the unique social determinants of health that impact their respective neighborhoods,” Larry J. Merlow, president and chief executive officer of CVS Health, said in a statement.
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