03/31/2014
Lily Oberman
County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute, ranked every county in Illinois from most to least healthy. The organization examined data on mortality rates, high school graduation rates, obesity rates and access to healthy food, among other criteria. Here are the 10 least healthy counties in Illinois — are you surprised by any of the counties on this list?
(Click here to view a map of the counties judged most healthy.)
1) Alexander County
Percent of population in poor or fair health: N/A
Percent of population without insurance: 14 percent
Adult obesity rate: 31 percent
Excessive drinking rate: N/A
High school graduation rate: 69 percent
Percent of all restaurants that are fast-food establishments: 22 percent
2) Gallatin County
Percent of population in poor or fair health: N/A
Percent of population without insurance: 15 percent
Adult obesity rate: 28 percent
Excessive drinking rate: N/A
High school graduation rate: 70 percent
Percent of all restaurants that are fast-food establishments: N/A
3) Edwards County
Percent of population in poor or fair health: N/A
Percent of population without insurance: 15 percent
Adult obesity rate: 28 percent
Excessive drinking rate: N/A
High school graduation rate: 70 percent
Percent of all restaurants that are fast-food establishments: 88 percent
4) Franklin County
Percent of population in poor or fair health: 23 percent
Percent of population without insurance: 15 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking rate: 13 percent
High school graduation rate: 80 percent
Percent of all restaurants that are fast-food establishments: 44 percent
5) Pulaski County
Percent of population in poor or fair health: N/A
Percent of population without insurance: 16 percent
Adult obesity rate: 32 percent
Excessive drinking rate: N/A
High school graduation rate: 83 percent
Percent of all restaurants that are fast-food establishments: 40 percent
6) Saline County
Percent of population in poor or fair health: N/A
Percent of population without insurance: 13 percent
Adult obesity rate: 29 percent
Excessive drinking rate: 3 percent
High school graduation rate: 79 percent
Percent of all restaurants that are fast-food establishments: 56 percent
7) Vermilion County
Percent of population in poor or fair health: 18 percent
Percent of population without insurance: 14 percent
Adult obesity rate: 29 percent
Excessive drinking rate: 19 percent
High school graduation rate: 79 percent
Percent of all restaurants that are fast-food establishments: 49 percent
8) Massac County
Percent of population in poor or fair health: N/A
Percent of population without insurance: 13 percent
Adult obesity rate: 32 percent
Excessive drinking rate: N/A
High school graduation rate: 75 percent
Percent of all restaurants that are fast-food establishments: 47 percent
9) Hardin County
Percent of population in poor or fair health: N/A
Percent of population without insurance: 13 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking rate: N/A
High school graduation rate: 84 percent
Percent of all restaurants that are fast-food establishments: N/A
10) Hamilton County
Percent of population in poor or fair health: N/A
Percent of population without insurance: 14 percent
Adult obesity rate: 30 percent
Excessive drinking rate: 3 percent
High school graduation rate: 76 percent
Percent of all restaurants that are fast-food establishments: 56 percent
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Lily Oberman is an editorial assistant at Reboot Illinois. She is a recent graduate of Northwestern University, where she studied journalism and political science. She’s offered up a closer look at how Illinois’ gubernatorial candidates are using social media and examined how the gubernatorial candidates are spending their money.