Long Live Summit County!
Life expectancy in Summit County, CO is 86.8 – two years higher than any country on earth – according to a recent study published by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation:
“Summit County has very high education, high income, high access to medical care, the people are physically active, obesity is lower than anywhere else — so you’re doing it right,” said Dr. Ali Mokdad, one of the study’s co-authors.
Healthy Living in the Colorado High Country
Summit County also has consistently had the lowest cancer mortality rate in the US for the last 30 years. Researchers once again attribute the lower cancer mortality rates to the county’s culture of wellness, particularly: low smoking rates, high physical activity, healthy eating, and access to medical care. Additionally, a report last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that counties in Colorado ski country have among the nation’s lowest rate of death from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, chronic respiratory diseases and common infectious diseases.
The good news doesn’t end there, Summit County also ranks 8th in Colorado for health outcomes out of the state’s 58 counties, according to the University of Wisconsin’s Population Health Institute. The study found that 92% of all residents in Summit County report engaging in physical activity. Additionally, the obesity rate in the county is 13%, whereas the average for the state of Colorado is 20%.
A Healthy Industry
Summit County’s culture of wellness is further illustrated by the growth of the local health industry. According to Town of Frisco sales tax data, health and beauty industry sales tax revenue in 2016 was up a whopping 35.2% from 2015, the largest growth rate of any local industry. As of March 2017, year-to-date health and beauty sales tax revenue is us 9.77% from this time last year.
So what does this mean for Summit County locals? Summit County offers a great environment to live a healthier lifestyle and create a higher quality of life that everybody deserves. Experience what Summit County has to offer, and you will not only have fun, you will improve your health, your mood and your life.
Certainly, environmental factors such as the lack of air pollution in the area improve our health here in the county. However, it appears that central to our longevity is our commitment to wellness as a lifestyle.
