Discover How Healthy Your State is, and How to Improve the State of Your Health
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Americans are in serious trouble, as a nationwide survey reported
the physical health of the nation has taken a downward turn. Previous
improvements in the country's vital signs have come to a screeching
halt due to two specific areas: Obesity and infant mortality.
In the 1990s, state health rankings improved by 1.5 percent a year,
partly because of smoking-reduction programs. However, since 2000,
the improvements have dropped steadily.
Undoubtedly, the nation's future health is being compromised
by the obesity epidemic. The number of those who are obese has increased
97 percent since 1990, a statistic that should raise giant bright
red flags, as weight issues can considerably raise one's risk
of chronic illnesses.
In addition to overwhelming obesity numbers, infant mortality rates
are bringing trauma to the forefront. In fact, more than 75 infants
die a day in America, ranking the United States 29th in the world
for infant mortality. This means that seven out of every 1,000 babies
will die before their first birthday. Maternal risk factors directly
contributing to infant mortality include access to prenatal and
pediatric care, age, obesity, smoking, infection and stress.
Other problems taking a toll on America's health include the
high percentage of people without health insurance, the decline
in high school graduation rates and the increase in child poverty.
The Most-to-Least Healthly
U.S. States
| Rank |
State |
Rank |
State |
| 1. |
Minnesota |
26. |
Montana |
| 2. |
New Hampshire |
27. |
Ohio |
| 3. |
Vermont |
28. |
Wyoming |
| 4. |
Hawaii |
29. |
Illinois |
| 5. |
Utah |
30. |
Michigan |
| 6. |
Massachusetts |
31. |
New York |
| 7. |
North Dakota |
32. |
Delaware |
| 8. |
Connecticut |
33. |
Indiana |
| 9. |
Wisconsin |
34. |
Maryland |
| 10. |
Maine |
35. |
Texas |
| 11. |
Iowa |
36. |
Missouri |
| 12. |
Nebraska |
37. |
Nevada |
| 13. |
Colorado |
38. |
New Mexico |
| 14. |
Rhode Island |
39. |
Kentucky |
| 15. |
Washington |
40. |
Oklahoma |
| 16. |
Kansas |
41. |
North Carolina |
| 17. |
New Jersey |
42. |
Florida |
| 18. |
Idaho |
43. |
Alabama |
| 19. |
South Dakota |
44. |
West Virginia |
| 20. |
Virginia |
45. |
Georgia |
| 21. |
Oregon |
46. |
Arkansas |
| 22. |
California |
47. |
South Carolina |
| 23. |
Arizona |
48. |
Tennessee |
| 24. |
Alaska |
49. |
Mississippi |
| 25. |
Pennsylvania |
50. |
Louisiana |
USA
Today November 8, 2004
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