Photo by GRandallJ.

While the Washington metro area is ranked the second fittest and healthiest region in all of America, many people in “Richie Rich” Northern Virginia aren’t taking care of their health.

More than half of Northern Virginians are overweight or obese, according to a report by the Northern Virginia Health Foundation. That’s over a million people out of the 2.2 million who live in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.

There’s more. More than 400,000 adults haven’t been to a dentist in the past two years. The most popular reasons for avoiding the dentist were “Only get health or dental care in emergencies” and “Take care of my teeth fine and do not have problems.” This was the top reason for both people who make under $40,000 and those who earn over $40,000. Something everyone can agree on!

Also an issue in Northern Virginia: alcohol. More than 344,800 residents are at risk of binge drinking.

Youth of NoVa didn’t fair much better. The report estimates that 33,000 may use tobacco, 47,381 may use alcohol, 42,340 may be at risk for depression (defined as feeling sad or hopeless for more than two weeks) and 46,007 may be overweight or obese.

In news that will just shock your pants off, the data shows some relation between money and health. Fairfax County, for example, ranks first in health outcomes out 133 Virginia counties and cities, and second in social and economic factors. Prince William County, on the other hand, ranked tenth in health outcomes and sixteenth in social and economic factors.

But the report stresses that “many residents, from various income levels and various racial and ethnic groups, face conditions that are challenging to their health.”

In conclusion: Go to the dentist, Northern Virginia!