×

Brown County 16th in health outcomes, 7th in health factors, in state

NEW ULM — Overall health in Brown County may be improving, according to the annual County Rankings and Roadmaps report released Tuesday.

The report, released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, measures vital health factors and outcomes in nearly every county in the United States.

Out of 87 counties in Minnesota, Brown County is ranked 16th in health outcomes and seventh in health factors, compared to last year’s findings ranking the county at 27th in health outcomes and 12th in health factors.

However, the bump up within statewide rankings with health outcomes and factors doesn’t necessarily mean health in all measured aspects has improved.

According to the report, Brown County’s rate of adult obesity measures 30 percent. This is a 2 percent increase in obesity rates from 2011 when the rate was 28 percent. The report also shows an increase in obesity since 2004 when the obesity rate was about 25 percent.

The report also states physical activity in Brown County is resting, with 23 percent of the adult population not getting enough exercise compared to 2011’s 24 percent.

While a 1 percent decrease in inactivity may sound appealing, the report states the county physical inactivity rate has worsened since 2004 when the rate was between 15 to 16 percent – meaning fewer people are getting enough exercise.

However, fewer adults are using tobacco, as the number of adults smoking is extinguishing. The report states 13 percent of adults in Brown County smoke tobacco compared to 2014’s 23 percent. The latter year was the first adult smoking was measured.

The report shows those living in Brown County are perhaps becoming a bit more thirsty as well. The excessive alcohol consumption has jumped from 20 percent in 2011 to 22 percent in 2019.

The overall rankings in health outcomes and health factors represent how healthy counties are and what contributes to overall health. The healthiest county in the state is ranked number one.

Health outcomes are ranks that are based on length of life and quality of life.

Health factors represent what influences the health of a county by estimating a county’s future health.

Factors examined by the report are: health behaviors, obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, smoking, clinical care, social and economic and physical environment factors.

Brown County measures at 5,000 years of potential life lost (YPLL) compared to an average of 5,100 YPLL in Minnesota.

Premature death measures the YPLL before age 75 per 100,000 population (age-adjusted). Every death occurring before the age of 75 contributes to the total number of years of potential life lost.

The total number of YPPL in Brown County is gathered by the number of deaths that occurred in 2018 from leading causes that occurred under the age of 75.

Last year, leading causes of death examined in Brown County were: 80 deaths attributed to malignant neoplasms (tumors); 28 diseases of the heart deaths; and 20 deaths because of accidents or unintentional injuries.

In 2011’s findings, the YPLL in Brown County was measured at 4,075, meaning the YPLL has worsened with more years lost.

According to the 2019 rankings, the five healthiest counties in Minnesota, starting with the most healthy, are Carver County, followed by Washington County, Nicollet County, Scott County and Wright County. The five counties in the poorest health, starting with the least healthy, are Mahnomen County, Cass County, Wadena County, Norman County and Beltrami County.

The annual rankings provide a revealing snapshot of how health is influenced by where people live, learn, work and play. The rankings provide a starting point for change in communities.

Gage Cureton can be emailed at gcureton@nujournal.com.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today