2013 Results are in!
The 25 Healthiest States in America:
Does Your State Measure Up?
Great news! Our nation’s health is improving…
Every year, the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association, and the Partnership for Prevention team up to rank the health of every state in America. The report is called America’s Health Rankings and it’s designed to highlight the good and the bad about the nation’s public health.
This year there’s good news: Americans have improved in over two-thirds of the measures used to rank. These measures include lifestyle factors (like smoking and alcohol use)… health measures (like cancer death and diabetes rates)… and quality of life indicators (like pollution and violent crime).
For example…
…a significant decrease has been reported in smoking and levels of physical inactivity.
Running woman
“Declines in the smoking rate (from 21.2% to 19.6%) and levels of physical inactivity (26.2% to 22.9%) are most impressive,” says Dr. Reed Tuckson, MD, external senior medical advisor to the United Health Foundation. “We’re also relieved that for the first time since 1998, the obesity rate did not worsen.”
However, there’s still work to be done: close to 20% of American adults still smoke and nearly 28% of American adults are obese.
Are You Living in a Healthy State?
Did you know that living in certain areas of the country can put you ahead of the curve when it comes to living a healthy, active life?
It’s true! Here’s a list of the 25 healthiest states of 2013 according to America’s Health Rankings. Does your state make the list?
25. Alaska
2012 Rank: 24
Change: -1
Strengths:
Low levels of air pollution
Low prevalence of low birth weight
Small disparity in health status by educational attainment
Challenges:
High violent crime rate
High incidence of chlamydia infections
Low immunization coverage among children
24. Maryland
2012 Rank: 20
Change: -4
Strengths:
Low prevalence of smoking
Low percentage of children in poverty
Ready availability of primary care physicians and dentists
Challenges:
High violent crime rate
High prevalence of low birth weight and high infant mortality rate
High levels of air pollution
23. Montana
2012 Rank: 28
Change: +5
Strengths:
Low prevalence of obesity and diabetes
Low levels of air pollution
Low rate of cancer deaths
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
High percentage of uninsured population
Limited availability of primary care physicians
22. South Dakota
2012 Rank: 23
Change: +1
Strengths:
Low rate of drug deaths
Low levels of air pollution
Few poor mental and physical health days per month
Challenges:
High prevalence of smoking
High prevalence of binge drinking
Low immunization coverage among children and adolescents
21. California
2012 Rank: 21
Change: None
Strengths:
Low prevalence of smoking
Low prevalence of physical inactivity
Low infant mortality, cancer deaths, and premature death rates
Challenges:
High levels of air pollution
High percentage of uninsured population
Low immunization coverage among children
20. Wisconsin
2012 Rank: 13
Change: -7
Strengths:
High rate of high school graduation
High immunization coverage among children
Low percentage of uninsured population
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
High incidence of infectious diseases
Low per capita public health funding
19. Rhode Island
2012 Rank: 16
Change: -3
Strengths:
Low prevalence of obesity
High immunization coverage among adolescents
Ready availability of primary care physicians
Challenges:
High rate of drug deaths
High rate of preventable hospitalizations
Large disparity in health status by educational attainment
18. Iowa
2012 Rank: 17
Change: -1
Strengths:
High rate of high school graduation
Low percentage of children in poverty
Few poor mental and physical health days per month
Challenges:
High prevalence of obesity
High prevalence of binge drinking
Limited availability of primary care physicians
17. Wyoming
2012 Rank: 25
Change: +8
Strengths:
Low violent crime rate
Low percentage of children in poverty
Low levels of air pollution
Challenges:
High prevalence of smoking
Low immunization coverage among adolescents
Limited availability of primary care physicians
16. Maine
2012 Rank: 15
Change: -1
Strengths:
Low violent crime rate
Low percentage of uninsured population
Low prevalence of low birth weight
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
High rate of cancer deaths
Limited availability of dentists
15. New York
2012 Rank: 18
Change: +3
Strengths:
Low prevalence of obesity and smoking
High per capita public health funding
Ready availability of primary care physicians and dentists
Challenges:
Low rate of high school graduation
High percentage of children in poverty
Low immunization coverage among children
14. Washington
2012 Rank: 12
Change: -2
Strengths:
Low prevalence of physical inactivity
Low rate of preventable hospitalization
Low infant mortality rate and low prevalence of low birth weight
Challenges:
High rate of drug deaths
High incidence of pertussis infections
Low immunization coverage among children
13. Oregon
2012 Rank: 14
Change: +1
Strengths:
Low prevalence of physical inactivity
Low rate of preventable hospitalization
Low infant mortality rate and low prevalence of low birth weight
Challenges:
Low high school graduation rate
Low immunization coverage among children
Many poor mental and physical health days per month
12. Idaho
2012 Rank: 19
Change: +7
Strengths:
Low prevalence of smoking
Low rate of preventable hospitalization
Low prevalence of low birth weight
Challenges:
Limited availability of primary care physicians
Low immunization coverage among children and adolescents
High incidence of pertussis infections
11. Nebraska
2012 Rank: 11
Change: None
Strengths:
Low rate of drug deaths
Low prevalence of low birth weight
Few poor mental and physical health days per month
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
Moderate prevalence of obesity
Large disparity in health status by educational attainment
10. New Jersey
2012 Rank: 10
Change: None
Strengths:
Low rate of drug deaths
Low percentage of children in poverty
Ready availability of primary care physicians and dentists
Challenges:
High prevalence of physical inactivity
Low rate of preventable hospitalizations
9. North Dakota
2012 Rank: 8
Change: -1
Strengths:
Low rate of drug deaths
High rate of high school graduation
Few poor mental and physical health days per month
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
High prevalence of obesity
High rate of occupational fatalities
8. Colorado
2012 Rank: 9
Change: +1
Strengths:
Low prevalence of obesity, physical inactivity, and diabetes
Low levels of air pollution
Low rate of preventable hospitalizations
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
High rate of drug deaths
Large disparity in health status by educational attainment
7. Connecticut
2012 Rank: 7
Change: None
Strengths:
Low prevalence of smoking
Low incidence of infectious diseases
High immunization coverage among children and adolescents
Challenges:
Moderate prevalence of binge drinking
Low high school graduation rate
Large disparity in health status by educational attainment
6. Utah
2012 Rank: 6
Change: None
Strengths:
Low prevalence of smoking and binge drinking
Low prevalence of physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes
Low rate of preventable hospitalizations
Challenges:
High rate of drug deaths
High incidence of pertussis infections
Limited availability of primary care physicians
5. New Hampshire
2012 Rank: 5
Change: None
Strengths:
Low percentage of children in poverty
High immunization coverage among children
Low infant mortality rate
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
High incidence of pertussis infections
Low per capita public health funding
4. Massachusetts
2012 Rank: 4
Change: None
Strengths:
Low prevalence of obesity
Low percentage of uninsured population
Ready availability of primary care physicians and dentists
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
High rate of preventable hospitalizations
Large disparity in health status by educational attainment
3. Minnesota
2012 Rank: 3
Change: None
Strengths:
Low prevalence of physical inactivity and diabetes
High rate of high school graduation
Low rates of premature death and cardiovascular disease deaths
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
Low per capita health funding
Low immunization coverage among children
2. Vermont
2012 Rank: 2
Change: None
Strengths:
High rate of high school graduation
Low violent crime rate
Low percentage of uninsured population
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
Low immunization coverage among children
High incidence of pertussis infections
1. Hawaii
2012 Rank: 1
Change: None
Strengths:
Low prevalence of smoking and obesity
High immunization coverage among children
Low rate of preventable hospitalizations
Challenges:
High prevalence of binge drinking
Low high school graduation rate
High incidence of salmonella infections
What About the Unhealthy States?
The lowest ranking-states are Louisiana (#48), Arkansas (#49), and Mississippi (#50). These states have high rates of obesity… diabetes… and sedentary living.
To view the full America’s Health Rankings report, visit americashealthrankings.org
Insider’s Health Exclusive –>>: Click Here to Find out The ONE “Weird Trick” that reduces your terminal disease risk by OVER 70% (and NONE of us are doing it)
