Monitoring the health status of the population is one of the core functions of local health departments and other public health agencies. This report employs a new method — the Global Burden of Disease — to assess the total burden of disease and injury among Los Angeles County residents. This method combines premature mortality (measured using Years of Life Lost, or YLLs) and morbidity (measured using Years Lived with Disability, or YLDs) into a single measure of burden known as Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). The goals of this report are to: (a) provide additional perspective on how to assess burden of disease and injury, and (b) advance the public discussion about how and where to allocate public health resources to most effectively address the diverse health needs of the County’s residents. The findings confirm previous results regarding the major health problems facing the County, while highlighting the significant impact of other public health problems that are often underestimated.