In the annual County Health Rankings report released Wednesday, Weld County ranked second-lowest in the state for physical environment health.

In overall health status, Weld ranked 23rd out of 58 counties in the ninth annual report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. According to the report, the five leading causes of death for people under the age of 75 in Weld are cancer, heart disease, unintentional injuries, suicide and chronic lower respiratory diseases.

Weld has the highest average daily density of fine particulate matter in the state at 9.2 micrograms per cubic meter, according to data from the report. The county tied with Crowley, Fremont and Pueblo counties for highest percentage of the workforce that commutes alone at 80 percent.

Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment spokesman Eric Aakko said efforts are under way to improve connectivity and public transportation in the county, but Weld faces an added challenge for its large size. Some people are just going to have to drive to work in a county of Weld’s size, he said. On Bike to Work Day in June, Aakko added, there is a clear improvement in air quality.

“While we have been taking important steps to improve the health of our community, there is more we can do to help residents lead healthier lives,” said Mark Wallace, executive director of the Weld health department, in a news release. “The health rankings support the work being done in Weld County, and they show us where we are doing well, and where we can improve.”

Weld ranked 45th out of 58 counties for health behaviors in the report. The county’s greatest areas for improvement are in adult obesity rates – which is 5 percent higher than the state rate of 21 percent – and access to exercise and recreational opportunities – which is 16 percent lower than the state rate of 91 percent.

Aakko said the Weld health department gets requests for more recreational opportunities in Weld; every three years, officials do the community health assessment.

“We are trying to get more connectivity between communities and to work on establishing some new trail corridors,” Aakko said. “I think once those get in place the public will certainly have more places to recreate.”

More than 90 health-minded partners have worked to improve health over the past five years in Weld, according to the release. Efforts to improve the obesity rate include promoting healthy eating and active living strategies. Aakko said obesity is a complex issue to break down, but important factors for Weld include lower incomes and lower levels of education than other counties.

Weld was not without its strengths in the report, ranking 18th for clinical care and 24th for overall quality of life. For more information about the report go to www.countyhealthrankings.org.