Study: Philadelphia Unhealthiest County In Pennsylvania
By Jim Melwert
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - An annual study takes a look at the healthiest and least healthy counties. And, once again, Philadelphia has some work to do.
The "County Health Rankings" place Philadelphia 67th-out-of-67 in Pennsylvania.
Higher-than-average rates of smoking, inactivity and obesity don't help. But, it's the socio-economic indicators -- like high drop-out rate, violent crime, and childhood poverty -- that really weigh it down.
Rankings spokesman Pat Remmington says wealthier suburbs typically score better, but the point of the study is to find ways to improve.
"What makes a community healthy? What can we do to design our workplaces, homes, and cities so they're designed to allow us to lead a healthier life?"
In the Garden State, South Jersey counties trail their North Jersey counterparts, losing ground on health behaviors and mood.
The annual study is done by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin.
Learn more at CountyHealthRankings.org
