The 2022 County Health Rankings & Roadmap report from the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute looks at health outcomes in terms of overall longevity and quality of life and the rankings put Chattooga County in the lowest tier.

“A wide range of factors influence how long and how well we live, from education and income, to what we eat and how we move, to the quality of our housing and the safety of our neighborhoods,” the report states. “For some people, the essential elements for a healthy life are readily available; for others, the opportunities for healthy choices are significantly limited due to power imbalances in decision-making and resource allocation.”

The report considers numerous health factors in four broad categories — behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors and the physical environment.

On factor that Chattooga County scored particularly low in was physical activity.  37% of a adults in the county reported “no leisure-time” physical activity.  The lack of physical exercise can lead to obesity and many other health issues.  The county also performed poorly in the area of alcohol and driving.  A whopping 31% of the fatal accidents in Chattooga County were because someone was drinking behind the wheel.