With its countless gyms and bustling juice bars, everyone knows Westchester is a healthy place — but just how healthy may surprise you. In the 2017 County Health Rankings, conducted by the national organization County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Westchester came in first place for Healthy Behavior. The honor represents a major notch on the belt for a region that prides itself with its focus on fitness and access to top-tier healthcare.
“Westchester County continues to rank near the top of the state in health factors and outcomes, which is very positive news,” said Westchester County Department of Health commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, in a statement. “The results underscore the ability of our health care providers to supply our residents with the medical, educational and outreach resources they need to maintain and improve the quality of their lives.”
The county ranked fourth for Health Outcomes, a criterion based on health behaviors and general clinical care, as well as fourth for Health Factors, which measure the ways environmental, economic, and social factors affect general health.
County Executive Robert P. Astorino cheered on the accolades in a statement, noting that it is “gratifying to know that our residents are taking the steps to enhance and extend their lives, which is a testament to the messaging coming out of our Department of Health.”
The report demonstrated that Westchester residents enjoy above-average access to primary care physicians, mental health providers, and dentists. It also suggests the county experiences lower unemployment, smoking rates, obesity rates, fewer children living in poverty and a better-educated population than the state as a whole. Westchester also broke the top five in the awarded categories last year. The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute developed the rankings, with additional funding by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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