Fayette County Named Healthiest County in Georgia

April 04, 2012

According to a report on CBS Atlanta 46, Fayette County has been named the healthiest county in Georgia in a study performed at the University of Wisconsin. The study looked at things like education levels, obesity rates and premature death statistics to develop the county rankings. Fayette’s obesity rates are lower than both the Georgia and National averages.

The story, as found at WGCL’s website: http://wgcl.m0bl.net/r/yiz3p

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Fayette County ranked healthiest county in state
By Adam Murphy
Apr 3, 2012 5:56 p.m.

FAYETTE COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) – The third annual County Health Rankings were released by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on Tuesday.

According to the study, Fayette County is the healthiest county in the state.

“Of course, the very first thing is it makes me very glad that I live here and very proud that I live here,” said Fayette County resident Becky Smith.

Smith works for a non-profit group in the county called Fayette Factor. It’s their mission to improve the quality of life for children and families in the community.

Fayette County is about 30 minutes south of Atlanta and home to more than 100,000 people.

“When you take pride in your community, you take pride in yourself and your family, you want to keep it the very best that it can possibly be,” said Smith.

According to the newly released county health rankings, Fayette has a 94 percent high school graduation rate, an adult obesity rate that is lower than the state and national average and one of the lowest levels of premature death.

Most living in the county credit exercise and education and good healthcare for their success.

“Honestly, I think it’s because people are very religious here, and it’s a very tight-knit community, and everyone is very friendly,” said Fayette County resident Joanny Duarte.

“What is the secret for success?” asked CBS Atlanta reporter Adam Murphy.

“Adam, in my opinion, it is that we have 41 percent of our residents 25 years or older that have a bachelors degree or higher,” said Smith.

Rounding out the top five are Forsyth, Oconee, Cherokee and Gwinnett. Fulton County ranked 26th, and at the bottom of the list was Talbot County.

The rankings are an annual check-up that measure how healthy people are and how long they live.