Neighbors Bossier and Caddo Counties Differ Significantly Health-wise

A joint study done by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute found Bossier as among the highest-rank counties health-wise in Louisiana, but neighboring county Caddo finds itself on the bottom half of the state rankings. The study ranked counties nationwide based on health measures under the two broad categories of health outcomes and health factors.

State-wide, Bossier Parish placed fourth in health outcomes and eight in health factors. Caddo Parish, on the other hand, ranked 38th on outcomes and 18th in health factors in the state. Apparently, both outcomes (mortality or morbidity rates) and health risk factors (behavior such as smoking, excessive drinking, and promiscuity) are more prevalent in the Caddo side of the Red River than the other.

Some experts caution though against misreading the study results, as they emphasize that healthiness of residents differs much with healthiness of the place.