Fostering Healthy Communities

By Jeff Arnold, CEO and Chairman

As I’ve blogged about previously, where you live can have a major impact on your health and well-being. New research released yesterday from Gallup and Sharecare’s pop health division ranked 189 communities across the United States on their overall well-being by examining five factors: purpose, social, financial, community and physical. While the individual rankings are interesting, what we can learn from this data on a macro-level is likewise important, such as the fact that communities investing in bike paths, parks, walkability and public transit yield better outcomes. I commend the community leaders, health systems, and employers in communities like Naples in Southwest Florida – 2016’s community with the highest well-being – who are harnessing the power of this data and implementing programs like Sharecare’s Blue Zones Project to more effectively help their families, friends and neighbors live healthier and happier every day.