COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County moved up 14 spots in the annual health ranking of Michigan counties by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Branch County is now ranked 40th out of the 83 Michigan counties for health outcomes. The rankings are based on a series of factors such as access to quality education, jobs and housing.
Youngsters living in poverty and teen births are also examined.
Branch County is ranked 56th out of the Michigan counties for length of life and 60th for health behaviors with 16 percent of the population in fair or poor health.
19 percent of adults in Branch County smoke, 20 percent are excessive drinkers while 32 percent are obese.
The research also shows that eight percent of the county’s residents are uninsured, 25% of children are living in poverty, and 15% of the county’s residents have severe housing problems.
