Tooele County residents rank in the bottom third of all Utahns when it comes to overall health, according to a report released earlier this week by the Utah Department of Health. The first-ever statewide health behavior survey showed the county exceeded the state average in several key indicators of poor health, including percentage of residents who smoke, drink, are physically inactive, and are overweight or obese.

The survey, conducted from 2001 to 2005, divided the total state population into 61 geographic areas based on population size and density, and questioned residents on everything from dietary habits to HIV testing. Tooele County finished 40th in the overall rankings, much to the chagrin of local health officials.

“The results of the survey tell us we’ve still got some work to do,” said Bucky Whitehouse, public information officer for the Tooele County Health Department. “They identify several important factors that need to be addressed.”

Whitehouse said one of the most important issues is the interrelated nature of health behaviors and medical conditions. Many health problems can be traced back to a single factor: regular physical exercise. According to the state survey, 24 percent of the county fails to exercise at least once a month, compared with the state average of 19 percent. Higher rates of inactivity are likely to mean higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

“On the other hand, if you increase physical activity, you decrease obesity, which in turn decreases blood pressure,” said Whitehouse. “That lessens the risk of other diseases. It’s a chain reaction.”

Whitehouse said regular physical exercise, 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, will help cut obesity and high blood pressure rates — two areas where Tooele County is well above the state average. Sixty-three percent of the county is overweight or obese, compared with 57 percent statewide. Meanwhile, 30 percent of county residents have high blood pressure, a full 8 percent more than the state average.

Another finding of the study is that smoking and drinking are more prevalent in Tooele than elsewhere in the state. Less than 12 percent of the total state population smokes regularly, whereas 18 percent of Tooele County residents do. The percentage of county residents who drink is slightly lower, with about 14 percent of the population reporting they have five or more alcoholic beverages at least once a month, compared to 9 percent statewide.

Whitehouse said smoking and drinking — particularly smoking — increases one’s risk for many medical conditions, including heart disease and cancer. He said the health department is actively involved in multiple projects to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking.

“We have joined with the school district in a campaign to educate students and promote smoke-free environments,” said Whitehouse. “Smoking is a health risk that can be completely avoided.”

The county also offers tobacco cessation classes for residents who want to quit smoking.

While the overall results of the study were negative, Whitehouse said there is a positive lesson county residents can take from them.

“It all starts with the heart,” said Whitehouse. “We need to be more heart-conscious, more heart-healthy. We can accomplish that by regular exercise, eating healthy, and actively pursuing a healthy lifestyle.”

The results will take time, said Whitehouse, but they will come.

For a list of health-related resources available through the county, contact the health department at 843-2310, or online at www.tooelehealth.org.

A full copy of the state health behavior survey is also available online at www.health.utah.gov.