Foundation takes pulse of Lake County's health
LEESBURG
Staff Report
Lake County is the 16th healthiest county in Florida, according to the nation's largest philanthropic organization devoted to health and health care.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's 2012 report ranks the health of Florida's 67 counties by taking into account data such as each county's tobacco use, levels of obesity, access to health care and healthy foods, and number of fast food chains.
"The county health rankings show us that much of what influences our health happens outside of the doctor's office. In fact, where we live, learn, work and play has a big role in determining how healthy we are and how long we live," said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, foundation president and CEO.
Based in Princeton, N.J., the foundation was started by the man who built the family firm of Johnson & Johnson into the world's largest health products maker. The foundation has $7.5 billion in assets and generates grants approaching $400 million a year, which it uses to prompt new public policy, inspire action from the private sector, and change systems for delivering the best health care to the most people.
Other area counties that made the report's top 20 list included Seminole, which ranked 2, and Orange County, which ranked 17.
Friday, April 06, 2012 - www.dailycommercial.com/040612heal