Butler County deemed one of least healthy in Missouri; Cape and Perry much better

Despite state-of-the-art medical facilities and ample opportunities for exercise, Butler County is one of the unhealthiest in Missouri, according to a recent report.

Perry County, which pulled a 15 ranking of 114, and Cape Girardeau County, coming in at 36 of 114, were the only beacons of wellness in Southeast Missouri, according to the report.

Pemiscot County, at No. 114, was crowned the unhealthiest in the state. New Madrid followed Pemiscot in "unhealthy-ness," earning the 113 spot, followed by Dunklin, Mississippi, Carter and Ripley counties.

Ripley also boasts the highest percentage of smokers in the state, at 47 percent. Reynolds, Dent and Stoddard counties were ranked 105, 104 and 102, respectively.

Platte County was ranked as the healthiest in the state, followed by St. Charles, Boone, Osage and Christian. Butler ranked 106 overall of the state's 114 counties, according to data from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's County Health Rankings Report. This is the sixth yearly report released by the not-for-profit organization.

Several measurements using data from state and federal statistics combine to make up the overall rankings, including health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic and physical environment.

Heavy smoking and obesity were two factors that hurt Butler County in the health behaviors section of the report.

About 34 percent of the county's 43,000-plus inhabitants smoke, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 35 percent of Butler County is overweight, according to the CDC.