by Kansas Health Institute

TOPEKA — Johnson County has been ranked as the healthiest county in the state, according to the fifth annual County Health Rankings, released today by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI). Woodson County, located in southeast Kansas, was ranked the lowest in overall health outcomes this year.

The County Health Rankings rank the overall health of nearly every county in all 50 states. The Rankings allow counties to see how well they are doing on 29 factors that influence health including smoking, education, employment, physical inactivity, and access to healthy foods.

According to the 2014 Rankings, the five healthiest counties in Kansas, starting with most healthy, are Johnson, followed by Riley, Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee and Stevens.

The five counties in the poorest health, starting with least healthy, are Woodson, Elk, Wyandotte, Chautauqua and Decatur.