New data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found out which Minnesota counties are the healthiest, and which ones need some work.
To compile their report, researchers gave out health grades based on life expectancy and how healthy people in each counties feel while the’re alive. According to the data, southern Minnesota counties are much healthier than counties in northern Minnesota. Here’s a look at the five healthiest counties in Minnesota:
1. Carver
2. Wilkin
3. Nobles
4. FIllmore
5. McLeod
As you can see, with the exception of Wilkin county, four of the five healthiest states are located in the southern part of the state. For more information, take a look at this map from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation County Health Rankings. The darker the county, the worse the overall health.
The Unhealthiest Counties in Minnesota
On the flip side of the ball, here’s a look at the top five unhealthiest counties in Minnesota:
1. Mahnomen
2. Cass
3. Renville
4. Norman
5. Beltrami
Why so high up north?
According to a report from the Duluth News Tribune, there are several factors that are contributing to unhealthy counties in northern Minnesota. Some of those factors include:
- Adult obesity
- High childhood poverty rates
- Physical inactivity
- Demographic discrepancies
To the demographic point, researchers suggest that a high American Indian population in these counties may be contributing to lower overall health. More than 40 percent of population in Mahnomen County is American Indian, while the population sits at 11.9 percent in Cass County and 20.8 percent in Beltrami county. A report by the Star-Tribune found that American Indians are twice as likely to become obese and twice as likely to develop Type II diabetes than white Minnesotans.
Despite the discouraging number in the northern part of the state, as a whole, Minnesota is pretty healthy compared to the other 49 states. Minnesota has fewer premature deaths, fewer adults with physical or mental health issues, fewer babies born underweight and a lower smoking rate compared to national averages. Alcohol consumption is one area where Minnesotans could use some work, as more adults (19 percent) admit to binge or heavy drinking, compared to 16 percent nationally.
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