In the past 25 years, the U.S. has made great strides forward in our population's health and taken a few major steps back, according to the United Health Foundation's 25th annual America's Health Rankings.
Americans are now living longer than ever — the average life expectancy hit a record high of 78.8 years this year — yet our nation still ranks 34th in terms of life expectancy, and we spend significantly more on health than any other country in the world.
Smoking declined another 3 percent nationwide this year, for a total decrease of 36 percent in the last 25 years. Since the first United Health Foundation report in 1990, cardiovascular deaths have decreased 38 percent and infant mortality rates have decreased by a whopping 41 percent. More teens are immunized, high school graduation is up and air pollution is down.
Yet, rates of obesity and diabetes both doubled since 1990 to 29.4 percent and 9.6 percent nationwide, respectively. Obesity increased 7 percent in the past year alone and physical inactivity outside of work also increased. Infectious diseases are up, though not because of Ebola. The nation saw a 154 percent increase in whooping cough cases in the past year and an 8 percent increase in Chlamydia. Though many Americans quit smoking, prescription drug abuse is becoming a national issue — drug deaths increased 7 percent in the past year.
The overall health outcomes of our nation may not be surprising. However, individual state populations are faced with some surprising challenges. Some of the healthiest states still struggle with binge drinking and immunization — issues the unhealthiest states have conquered. Though the unhealthiest states struggle with obesity, physical inactivity and preventable deaths, their high levels of immunization mean they were left largely untouched by the huge spike in pertussis cases this year.
The following states are ranked from most to least healthy, based on 27 population health measures which are grouped into five categories to determine an overall final health ranking. Categories include behaviors, community and environment, policy, clinical care and health outcomes.
- Hawaii
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Utah
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Colorado
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Washington
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Maryland
- California
- Idaho
- South Dakota
- Maine
- Virginia
- Montana
- Wisconsin
- Iowa
- Wyoming
- Alaska
- Kansas
- Pennsylvania
- Arizona
- Illinois
- Texas
- Florida
- New Mexico
- Michigan
- Delaware
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Georgia
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Indiana
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- West Virginia
- Tennessee
- Oklahoma
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
More articles on population health:
How socioeconomic factors affect readmission