Columbus County no longer least healthy in NC

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Columbus County is not considered the least healthy county in North Carolina anymore, according to a recent survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Last year, this annual report put Columbus County at the very bottom.

The study considered things like smoking, obesity and sexual health, among others when determining the standings. The study said ranking counties within states often leads to questions about how health outcomes and health factors vary across states.

Columbus County is still near the bottom, but it is no longer at the very bottom. The county is now ranked 96th least healthy out of 100.

Pender County is ranked 33. New Hanover County is ranked 14th and Brunswick County is 45. Bladen County is ranked 91.  Robeson County is now considered the least healthy county in the state.

Click here to see the entire report for the state.