By Thomas J. McKillen
Managing Editor

Washington County ranks in the top five healthiest counties in the state, according to a recent report that analyzed health factors in Wisconsin and the nation.
The County Health Ranking was undertaken by the Robert Johnson Wood Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. The study examined and ranked health outcomes such as premature death, poor or fair health, poor physical and mental health days and low birthweight.
The study then examined health factors that played a role in determining the outcomes. The factors included smoking, obesity, binge drinking, teen birth rate, smoking during pregnancy, motor vehicle crash-related emergency room visits, high school graduation, children living in poverty, single parent households and the violent crime rate.
"The data tells a story of our health that doesn’t take place in the doctor’s office, but where we live, learn, work and play.  This story reveals multiple factors— beyond access to health insurance and medical care – that influence how healthy we are and how long we live, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey said in a blog about the study.  "Factors like whether we have access to healthy foods, safe places to be active, our level of education, the number of children living in poverty, and even the number of liquor stores on our block."
The report uses data gathered between 2002-2008.
Washington County ranked third in the state in terms of health outcomes, behind Ozaukee and St. Croix counties. According to the report:
•12 percent of county residents described their health as "fair" or "poor";
•Residents surveyed said they had “poor” physical health days 2.6 days  for an average month  and poor mental health days 2.7 days for an average month;
•5.4 children born in the county  between 2000-2006 had low birth weight (less than 5 pounds, eight ounces).
In terms of health factors,18 percent of the county population are regular smokers. Also,
•27 percent of the county population is considered obese;
•23 percent engaged in binge drinking while there are .6 liquor stores per 10,000 population;
•16 children per 1,000 were born to teen mothers;
•8 percent of the adult population had no health insurance and 3 percent said they didn't get needed health care;
•79 residents per 1000,000 had primary care providers
•100 percent of ninth grade students in the county graduate within four years and 25 percent of the adult population over age 25 have college degrees.
When asked about the report, County Health Officer Linda Walter said the figures regarding obesity and binge drinking were the top two areas of concern for health officials. She noted that an initiative called the Healthy People Project of Washington County was started in 2006 and will be having a series of programs May 18-20.
Walter also noted that 40 percent of the report was weighted on social and economic factors, some of which have changed since the report in the data was compiled.
While pleased with being among the top five in the state, Walter emphasized there was room for improvement.
“That doesn’t mean we don’t have any work to do,” Walter said of the ranking.
Walter further noted that a similar report has occurred in the state since 2003 and that the county has performed well on those annual reporters. She explained that the report serves as a “snapshot” of health outcomes and factors between 2002-08.