Hawaii is the healthiest of the United States and Louisiana is the least healthy in 2015, according to data from United Health Foundation.
To illustrate how public health varies across the U.S., UHF's America's Health Ranking report examines various determinants and health outcomes that contribute to positive and poor public health. UHF analyzed factors such as health behaviors, quality of healthcare, health policy, the presence of diseases and preventable deaths in each state, with considerable variation observed between states.
Here is a deeper look into the five healthiest and least healthy states.
Healthiest states
1. Hawaii is the healthiest state for the fourth consecutive year, according to the UHF.
- Percent obese: 22.1 percent (2nd lowest)
- Cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people: 203 (3rd lowest)
- Primary care physicians per 100,000 people: 141 (9th highest)
- Percent of population with health insurance: 94 percent (2nd highest)
2. Vermont
- Percent obese: 24.8 percent (5th lowest)
- Cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people: 220 (14th lowest)
- Primary care physicians per 100,000 people: 181 (3rd highest)
- Percent of population with health insurance: 93.9 percent (3rd highest)
3. Massachusetts
- Percent obese: 23.3 percent (3rd lowest)
- Cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people: 206 (4th lowest)
- Primary care physicians per 100,000 people: 207 (the highest)
- Percent of population with health insurance: 96.5 percent (the highest)
4. Minnesota
- Percent obese: 27.6 percent (15th lowest)
- Cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people: 187 (the lowest)
- Primary care physicians per 100,000 people: 146 (7th highest)
- Percent of population with health insurance: 93.0 percent (4th highest)
5. New Hampshire
- Percent obese: 27.4 percent (14th lowest)
- Cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people: 213 (7th lowest)
- Primary care physicians per 100,000 people: 138 (11th highest)
- Percent of population with health insurance: 90.1 percent (16th highest)
The least healthy states
50. Louisiana
- Percent obese 34.9 percent (4th highest)
- Cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people: 306 (5th highest)
- Primary care physicians per 100,000 people: 125 (20th highest)
- Percent of population with health insurance: 84.3 percent (9th lowest)
49. Mississippi
- Percent obese 35.5 percent (3rd highest)
- Cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people: 345 (the highest)
- Primary care physicians per 100,000 people: 85 (2nd lowest)
- Percent of population with health insurance: 84.2 percent (8th lowest)
48. Arkansas
- Percent obese 35.9 percent (the highest)
- Cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people: 313 (4th highest)
- Primary care physicians per 100,000 people: 105 (12th lowest)
- Percent of population with health insurance: 86.1 percent (16th lowest)
47. West Virginia
- Percent obese 35.7 percent (2nd highest)
- Cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people: 300 (6th highest)
- Primary care physicians per 100,000 people: 109 (18th lowest)
- Percent of population with health insurance: 88.7 percent (22nd highest)
46. Alabama
- Percent obese 33.5 percent (5th highest)
- Cardiovascular deaths per 100,000 people: 330 (2nd highest)
- Primary care physicians per 100,000 people: 104 (11th lowest)
- Pct. with health insurance: 87.1 percent (20th lowest)