County drinks more than state and national average
For the third straight year, Gallatin County has been named the healthiest of Montana’s 56th counties, according to the 2012 County Health Rankings released April 3.
Also marking a trend, Montana’s Indian Reservations ranked poorly on the list, and Montana’s Roosevelt County—located on the Fort Peck Reservation—was the least healthy of all ranked counties. Glacier County, of which 70 percent of the land is within the Blackfeet Reservation, was second-to-last.
Eight percent of Gallatin County residents are in poor or fair health, 2 percent less than the national average. 13 percent of adults smoke and 17 percent are obese and inactive, each less than the national benchmark.
The study showed that Gallatin County residents outdrink the nation by almost three times as much, with 22 percent excessively drinking. (Montana’s average is 18 percent).
The motor vehicle death, uninsured, diabetic and mammography screenings rates were all higher in Gallatin County than the rest of the nation.
Neighboring Madison County ranked third on the list, followed by Missoula and Daniels counties. Park County was 12th on the list.
