EDITORIAL: Why this unhealthy county needs to shape up
You'd think, at first glance, that a big county that includes the nation's largest Army post (by population) would put a premium on fitness. And you'd be wrong. Our soldiers, of course, are mostly a pretty fit lot. They and their families get good, regular health care. Soldiers stay in good physical condition because they have to, and often the habit becomes a family affair.
But that condition isn't infectious. Another large slice of
The annual rankings of county health outcomes and the factors that cause them were released last week by the
In truth, we need to do much more than just continue working on them. We need to redouble our efforts. Poor health is expensive. It costs employers in lost work time and it burdens the health care system and the public and private insurance programs that support them. The county has consistently earned an F grade on the March of Dimes annual Premature Birth Report Card, which means way too many of our children are starting life with an immediate deficit -- one that's linked directly to the health and health practices of their mothers.
We're not alone in this mess. Neighboring
In
County Commissioner
But winning that war means generations of healthier children, who then also become better educated and part of a more capable workforce that will give businesses more reasons to locate here. There's nothing, really, but upside to making
All we need is determination.
___
(c)2019 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.)
Visit The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) at www.fayobserver.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Are Midwest’s Floods The New Normal?
$638.8 Million Powerball Jackpot Comes With Annuity Option
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News