Brooklyn and the Bronx are among the top five unhealthiest counties in the state of New York, according to a report released Wednesday.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute ranked the Bronx as the worst of all of New York’s 62 counties across a variety of health indicators, like mortality rate, tobacco use, unsafe sex, diet, exercise and access to health care. Brooklyn came in at the bottom as well with a ranking of 58.
“Today’s report shows significant health disparities across the nation, as well as here in New York,” said Dr. Thomas Farley, New York City health commissioner, in a statement. “We have seen significant decreases in some of these health gaps among New Yorkers. Despite these gains, there is still much work to be done.”
According to Yvonne Graham, deputy Brooklyn borough president, Brooklyn’s low ranking doesn’t come as a surprise.
“Poor communities in central Brooklyn have historically poor health indicators because those indicators are socially related and arise from poverty and inequality,” said Graham. “Additionally, health disparities have been compounded by an influx of over half a million immigrants.”
The health reports didn’t come as a shock to the Bronx either. According to Melissa Cebollero, director of Health and Human Services for Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, “we weren’t surprised, but we always hope not to end up last every year.”
Cebollero has focused on improving the health and nutrition of Bronx residents in order to combat obesity and other health problems related to poor nutrition.
