There are clear differences in health and well-being across the 50 U.S. states. Some states have populations that are generally healthier, with lower rates of chronic diseases, higher life expectancies, and better access to healthcare. Other states struggle with higher rates of conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Understanding which states are the healthiest and unhealthiest can provide insight into which policies and programs are working well in promoting public health, and which states need to improve in order to boost the health of their residents.
What factors make a state healthy or unhealthy?
Many elements contribute to a state’s overall health profile. Some key factors include:
– Obesity rates. States with lower levels of obesity generally have lower risks for chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers.
– Physical activity. More physically active populations tend to have lower risks for many chronic diseases.
– Smoking rates. States with lower smoking rates have lower risks of lung cancer and other diseases caused by smoking.
– Drug deaths. High rates of drug overdose deaths contribute to lower overall life expectancy.
– Access to healthcare. Populations with good access to medical care, through insurance coverage or ample doctors and hospitals, tend to be healthier.
– Income inequality. Large gaps between rich and poor drive health disparities and undermine public health overall.
– Air pollution. Poor air quality contributes to higher risks for respiratory diseases and heart disease.
– Preventative care use. Regular check-ups and preventative care, like cancer screenings, leads to earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Public health experts analyze a wide array of metrics across these categories to determine which states have the healthiest and least healthy populations.
What are the 10 healthiest U.S. states?
According to 2022 rankings from the United Health Foundation, which incorporates a range of health determinants and outcomes, here are the 10 healthiest U.S. states:
1. Massachusetts
Massachusetts consistently ranks as the healthiest state in the country. It performs very well on key health drivers like low rates of drug deaths, high insurance coverage, low obesity, ample exercise opportunities, and strong public health funding. The Bay State also leads in outcomes like infant mortality and cardiovascular deaths.
2. Connecticut
Connecticut has very low rates of smoking, obesity, and diabetes, contributing to high life expectancy. The state also performs well for high insurance coverage, low infectious disease, good mental health, and low rates of preventable hospitalizations.
3. Hawaii
Island living appears to confer health benefits. Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the nation. It also enjoys low obesity, smoking, and suicide rates. The state does face challenges with higher cost of living and limited access to mental health providers.
4. Vermont
Vermont has very high rates of insurance coverage and access to primary care doctors. Smoking rates are low, as is cancer mortality. Vermont does struggle more with higher rates of drug overdose deaths.
5. Utah
Utah has the lowest smoking rate in the country. Obesity rates are also lower than most states. Utah has challenges from higher suicide rates and air pollution in some urban areas. But overall outcomes are very good.
6. Minnesota
Minnesota scores very well for health behaviors like high exercise rates, low obesity, and low binge drinking. The state also performs well for positive health outcomes like low infant mortality and diabetes rates.
7. New Hampshire
Low poverty levels and high insured rates contribute to good health in New Hampshire. The state also has low obesity and smoking rates. Challenges include rising drug overdose deaths and higher suicide rates.
8. Washington
Washington enjoys low smoking rates, good availability of primary care, low cancer death rates, and excellent public health funding. Air pollution remains a challenge in urban areas. And drug death rates are rising.
9. Colorado
Colorado is known for an active, healthy lifestyle. The state has very low obesity and diabetes rates and high exercise rates. Life expectancy is also very high. Challenges include rising suicide rates and deaths from drug overdoses.
10. New York
While New York City faces many public health hurdles, the state ranks well overall for low smoking rates, high insurance coverage, and good health outcomes. Remaining challenges include higher rates of drug deaths and air pollution in urban areas.
What are the 10 unhealthiest U.S. states?
Here are the 10 states that face the biggest health challenges and poorest outcomes, starting with the least healthy:
50. Mississippi
Mississippi faces many health struggles. It has the highest obesity rate, lowest life expectancy, and highest rates of diabetes and heart disease deaths. The state also deals with high poverty, low insurance coverage, and poor access to healthcare in rural regions.
49. Louisiana
Louisiana contends with high rates of poverty, poor diet, obesity, and smoking. This contributes to poor outcomes for cardiovascular deaths and infant mortality. The state also has fewer primary care doctors than most states.
48. Arkansas
Arkansas has alarmingly high rates of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. These drive high incidence of diabetes, stroke deaths, heart disease, and cancer. The state also has challenges in access to mental health providers.
47. Alabama
Alabama struggles with poverty, low education, poor diet, and smoking, leading to high cardiovascular death rates. The state faces shortages of primary care doctors and dentists and has poor funding for public health.
46. West Virginia
West Virginia has the highest smoking rate and drug overdose death rate in the country. Other challenges include high obesity, drinking, and pollution levels. On the plus side, infectious disease rates are low.
45. Tennessee
While Tennessee performs well for low pollution, the state faces challenges with very high rates of obesity, smoking, diabetes, and cardiovascular deaths. Income inequality and low college education undermine health.
44. Oklahoma
Oklahoma contends with high cardiovascular death rates driven by obesity, smoking, and poor diet. The state also performs poorly for high drug death rates, physical inactivity, and low per capita public health funding.
43. Kentucky
Kentucky has some of the highest rates of smoking and cancer deaths. Other risks include lower insurance coverage, higher pollution, and limited access to mental health providers. On the upside, infectious disease rates are lower.
42. South Carolina
South Carolina struggles with poverty, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and stroke deaths. The state also has challenges with higher violent crime, chlamydia rates, and infant mortality. Public health funding is low.
41. Georgia
Georgia faces health hurdles from higher than average obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking rates. The state also has high incidence of low birth weight babies and maternal mortality. Air pollution is poor in urban Atlanta.
Key characteristics of the healthiest states
Reviewing the healthiest states reveals some shared traits that appear connected to better health:
– Higher incomes. Wealth gives access to better healthcare. Poverty is linked to poorer health behaviors and outcomes.
– Low rates of smoking. States with the lowest smoking rates have lower risks for respiratory diseases and cancer.
– Good access to medical care. Healthy states have high insurance coverage and ample primary care doctors.
– Low obesity. States with the lowest obesity have lower risks for diabetes and heart disease.
– High exercise rates. Physical activity is linked to better cardiovascular health and lower disease risks.
– Low pollution levels. Good air quality means lower incidence of asthma and heart disease exacerbated by pollution.
– Higher education levels. More education is tied to better health knowledge and behaviors.
– Strong public health programs. Healthy states tend to prioritize and fund public health efforts.
Common characteristics of the unhealthiest states
There are also some patterns among the states with the poorest health metrics:
– Higher poverty levels. Poorer states have more limited access to healthcare and affordable nutrition.
– Lower education. Less education is associated with less health knowledge and higher smoking, obesity rates.
– Higher obesity. Most of the unhealthiest states have very high obesity, which drives disease.
– More smoking. States with higher smoking see more lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory conditions.
– Lower insurance access. Lack of adequate medical insurance is a barrier to preventative services.
– More pollution. States with higher pollution have more illnesses like asthma exacerbated by poor air quality.
– Higher drug deaths. States with more overdose deaths often lack access to drug treatment.
– Less activity. Insufficient exercise contributes to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and poor mental health.
– Provider shortages. Doctor and mental health provider shortages create barriers to accessing care.
Conclusion
A state’s health is influenced by a wide mix of factors, including individual behaviors, community attributes, healthcare system factors, and public policy approaches. Massachusetts and states in New England tend to perform very well on health metrics. Southern states like Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana face the biggest health hurdles and poorest outcomes. Addressing core health determinants like poverty, education, nutrition, and exercise could help lagging states improve public health. Ongoing research into states’ health policies and programs can also inform how other states might replicate proven public health initiatives.