Middlesex Ranked 2nd Healthiest County In CT

County Health Rankings has released its 2012 report on the healthiest and least healthy counties in the country, and it ranks Middlesex County second in Connecticut.

According to the report, Tolland County tops the list at No. 1 and New Haven County takes last place at No. 8.

A press release from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation explains that the Rankings examines health behavior, clinical care, social and economic factors, physical environment and this year adds new data including the availability of fast food in the area and levels of physical inactivity to its study.

Here are a few of the statistics from the 2012 County Health Rankings:

• The percentage of adults that report smoking is 16 percent in Middlesex County; 16 percent in state; national benchmark is 14 percent
•  The percentage of adults that report having obesity (a BMI higher than 30) is 23 percent in Middlesex County, 23 percent in state, national benchmark is 25 percent
• The teen birth rate per 1,000 females is 12 in Middlesex County, 24 in state and national benchmark is 22

The full 2012 report for Middlesex County is available here.