County Residents Live Longer than Tricounty Neighbors

Fewer Dorchester County residents suffer from obesity or are physically inactive compared with the state average, according to a new study published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The study ranked S.C. counties based on health outcomes and health factors. Out of 46 counties, Dorchester County ranked No. 6 in health outcomes, and No. 4 in health factors. 

Health outcomes measure mortality (death before age 75) and morbidity (reports of fair health, reports of unhealthy days, reports of mentally unhealthy days and low birth weight). Health factors measure behaviors, social and economic factors, physical environment and clinical care.

The county beat out neighbors Charleston County (No. 7) and Berkeley County (No. 9) in health outcomes. This means Dorchester County residents are living longer than their neighbors with fewer deaths before the age of 75. 

For health factors, Charleston County (No. 2) beat Dorchester County. However, when it comes to within health factors, Dorchester County ranked No. 2 in social and economic factors, a category that looks at education, poverty and violent crime. The county is second only to Lexington County for those factors. 

Here is a snapshot of what the study uncovered:

• 21 percent of adults smoke; this is the same as the state average
• 30 percent of adults are obese; this is slightly less than the state average of 31 percent
• 26 percent of adults are physically inactive; this is less than the state average of 28 percent
• More people have more education in Dorchester County: 75 percent of adults have graduated high school, and 62 percent have attended some college. The state average on high school graduation is 74 percent, and the average on attending some college is 58 percent. 
• There are fewer children in poverty (19 percent) than the state average (28 percent)
• There are fewer uninsured people (18 percent) than the state average (20 percent)
• 57 percent of Summerville restaurants are fast food; the state average is 49 percent

Click here to view the full study.