published: Friday, April 13, 2012

Statistics: We're looking healthy

OURVOICE

GET ACTIVE: Lake County is No. 8 in the state for healthy behavior. Keeping fit and staying healthy sometimes is as easy as stepping out the front door.

Outdoor recreational activities abound in Lake County. Keeping fit and staying healthy sometimes is as easy as stepping out the front door.

You can't beat the Sunshine State's mild weather. And business leaders continue to make available top-grade medical services.

So, it should come as little wonder when reports tout the good health of local residents.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's 2012 report ranked Lake as the 16th healthiest county in Florida. That's out of 67 counties. And that's good news.

The foundation, which is the nation's largest philanthropic organization devoted to health and health care, takes into account tobacco use, levels of obesity, access to health care and healthy foods, and the number of fast food chains.

Sumter ranked 26, still above average. Seminole ranked 2; Orange ranked 17.

Some of the detailed test results about Lake were revealing:

-- No. 8 in the state for healthy behavior.

-- No. 11 for morbidity, which considered low birth weight, general physical health and mental health.

-- No. 20 for clinical care, which included factors such as the number of physicians, preventable hospital stays and health screenings.

-- No. 42 for physical environment. This analyzed access to recreation facilities, air-pollution/ozone days and the number of fast-foot restaurants.

That last one might provide a tip to help raise the ranking even higher: Go outdoors, but not to drive to the local hamburger joint.

Look at the high ranking in a positive light, and it's no wonder Lake did so well.

Consider the area's cancer walks, the numerous fundraisers for medical care and research, the business wellness challenges, the new medical offices and facilities and the focus on active living at both local schools and in retirement communities.

Go ahead. Take a deep breath. And get moving.