The 25 Healthiest States in 2013

Dec. 11, 2013— -- intro:You're probably used to hearing bad news about our nation's health, but a new report indicates it's beginning to look up. In 2013, Americans improved in more than two-thirds of the measures used in America's Health Rankings, an annual state-by-state assessment published jointly by the United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association, and Partnership for Prevention. The range of criteria used to determine the rankings includes concrete health measures (like cancer deaths and diabetes rates), lifestyle factors (smoking and alcohol use), and quality-of-life indicators (air pollution, violent crime).

The 10 Most Depressing States in America

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."

But despite this progress, there's plenty of room for improvement: nearly 28% of American adults are obese, and close to 20% still smoke.

Residents of the following 25 states are ahead of the curve when it comes to getting (and staying) healthy.

quicklist: 1 category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title: 25. Alaska url:text:2012 Rank: 24
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Strengths:Low levels of air pollutionLow prevalence of low birthweightSmall disparity in health status by educational attainment

Challenges:High violent crime rateHigh incidence of chlamydia infectionsLow immunization coverage among children

quicklist: 2 category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title: 24. Maryland url:text:2012 Rank: 20
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Strengths:Low prevalence of smokingLow percentage of children in povertyReady availability of primary care physicians and dentists

Challenges:High violent crime rateHigh prevalence of low birthweight and high infant mortality rateHigh levels of air pollution

The 50 Fattiest Foods in the States

quicklist: 3 category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title: 23. Montana url:text:2012 Rank: 28
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Strengths:Low prevalences of obesity and diabetesLow levels of air pollutionLow rate of cancer deaths

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingHigh percentage of uninsured populationLimited availability of primary care physicians

quicklist: 4 category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:22. South Dakota url:text:2012 Rank: 23
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Strengths:Low rate of drug deathsLow levels of air pollutionFew poor mental and physical health days per month

Challenges:High prevalence of smokingHigh prevalence of binge drinkingLow immunization coverage among children and adolescents

The 10 States Most Addicted to Smoking

quicklist: 5 category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:21. California url:text:2012 Rank: 21
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Strengths:Low prevalence of smokingLow prevalence of physical inactivityLow infant mortality, cancer deaths, and premature death rates

Challenges:High levels of air pollutionHigh percentage of uninsured populationLow immunization coverage among children

quicklist: 6 category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:20. Wisconsin url:text:2012 Rank: 13
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Strengths:High rate of high school graduationHigh immunization coverage among childrenLow percentage of uninsured population

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingHigh incidence of infectious diseasesLow per capita public health funding

10 Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

quicklist:7 category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:19. Rhode Island url:text:2012 Rank: 16
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Strengths:High prevalence of obesityHigh immunization coverage among adolescentsReady availability of primary care physicians

Challenges:High rate of drug deathsHigh rate of preventable hospitalizationsLarge disparity in health status by educational attainment

quicklist:8category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:18. Iowa url:text:2012 Rank: 17
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Strengths:High rate of high school graduationLow percentage of children in povertyFew poor mental and physical health days per month

Challenges:High prevalence of obesityHigh prevalence of binge drinkingLimited availability of primary care physicians

10 Worst States for Women's Health

quicklist:9category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:17. Wyoming url:text:2012 Rank: 25
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Strengths:Low violent crime rateLow percentage of children in povertyLow levels of air pollution

Challenges:High prevalence of smokingLow immunization coverage among adolescentsLimited availability of primary care physicians

quicklist:10category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:16. Maine url:text:2012 Rank: 15
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Strengths:Low violent crime rateLow percentage of uninsured populationLow prevalence of low birthweight

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingHigh rate of cancer deathsLimited availability of dentists

quicklist:11category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:15. New York url:text:2012 Rank: 18
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Strengths:Low prevalences of obesity and smokingHigh per capita public health fundingReady availability of primary care physicians and dentists

Challenges:Low rate of high school graduationHigh percentage of children in povertyLow immunization coverage among children

quicklist:12category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:14. Washington url:text:2012 Rank: 12
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Strengths:Low prevalence of physical inactivityLow rate of preventable hospitalizationLow infant mortality rate and low prevalence of low birthweight

Challenges:High rate of drug deathsHigh incidence of pertussis infectionsLow immunization coverage among children

quicklist:13category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:13. Oregon url:text:2012 Rank: 14
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Strengths:Low prevalence of physical inactivityLow rate of preventable hospitalizationLow infant mortality rate and low prevalence of low birthweight

Challenges:Low high school graduation rateLow immunization coverage among childrenMany poor mental and physical health days per month

quicklist:14category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:12. Idaho url:text:2012 Rank: 19
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Strengths:Low prevalence of smokingLow rate of preventable hospitalizationLow prevalence of low birthweight

Challenges:Limited availability of primary care physiciansLow immunization coverage among children and adolescentsHigh incidence of pertussis infections

quicklist:15category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:11. Nebraska url:text:2012 Rank: 11
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Strengths:Low rate of drug deathsLow prevalence of low birthweightFew poor mental and physical health days per month

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingModerate prevalence of obesityLarge disparity in health status by educational attainment

quicklist:16category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:10. New Jersey url:text:2012 Rank: 10
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Strengths:Low rate of drug deathsLow percentage of children in povertyReady availability of primary care physicians and dentists

Challenges:High prevalence of physical inactivityHigh prevalence of low birthweightHigh rate of preventable hospitalizations

quicklist:17category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:9. North Dakota url:text:2012 Rank: 8
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Strengths:Low rate of drug deathsHigh rate of high school graduationFew poor mental and physical health days per month

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingHigh prevalence of obesityHigh rate of occupational fatalities

quicklist:18category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:8. Colorado url:text:2012 Rank: 9
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Strengths:Low prevalences of obesity, physical inactivity, and diabetesLow levels of air pollutionLow rate of preventable hospitalizations

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingHigh rate of drug deathsLarge disparity in health status by educational attainment

quicklist:19category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:7. Connecticut url:text:2012 Rank: 7
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Strengths:Low prevalence of smokingLow incidence of infectious diseasesHigh immunization coverage among children and adolescents

Challenges:Moderate prevalence of binge drinkingLow high school graduation rateLarge disparity in health status by educational attainment

quicklist:20category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:6. Utah url:text:2012 Rank: 6
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Strengths:Low prevalence of smoking and binge drinkingLow prevalences of physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetesLow rate of preventable hospitalizations

Challenges:High rate of drug deathsHigh incidence of pertussis infectionsLimited availability of primary care physicians

quicklist:21category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:5. New Hampshireurl:text:2012 Rank: 5
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Strengths:Low percentage of children in povertyHigh immunization coverage among childrenLow infant mortality rate

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingHigh incidence of pertussis infectionsLow per capita public health funding

quicklist:22category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:4. Massachusettsurl:text:2012 Rank: 4
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Strengths:Low prevalence of obesityLow percentage of uninsured populationReady availability of primary care physicians and dentists

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingHigh rate of preventable hospitalizationsLarge disparity in health status by educational attainment

quicklist:23category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:3. Minnesota url:text:2012 Rank: 3
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Strengths:Low prevalences of physical inactivity and diabetesHigh rate of high school graduationLow rates of premature death and cardiovascular disease deaths

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingLow per capita health fundingLow immunization coverage among children

quicklist:24category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:2. Vermont url:text:2012 Rank: 2
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Strengths:High rate of high school graduationLow violent crime rateLow percentage of uninsured population

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingLow immunization coverage among childrenHigh incidence of pertussis infections

quicklist:25category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:1. Hawaii url:text:2012 Rank: 1
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Strengths:Low prevalences of smoking and obesityHigh immunization coverage among childrenLow rate of preventable hospitalizations

Challenges:High prevalence of binge drinkingLow high school graduation rateHigh incidence of salmonella infections

quicklist:26category: The 25 Healthiest States in 2013title:The unhealthiest statesurl:text:You've heard about the healthiest states, but what about the unhealthy ones? The lowest-ranking states are Louisiana (#48), Arkansas (#49), and Mississippi (#50), mostly due to high rates of sedentary living, obesity, and diabetes.

The good news: leaders in several low-ranking states are making efforts to turn it around. This year in Tennessee (#42), for example, governor Bill Haslam launched the Governor's Foundation for Health and Wellness. Texas (#36) is also showing improvement. "San Antonio's mayor, Julian Castro, really gets it," says Dr. Tuckson. Castro created SA2020, a movement to improve well-being among San Antonians across 11 key areas by the year 2020.

To view the full America's Health Rankings report, visit americashealthrankings.org.