WASHINGTON--Despite progress in several key indicators, the overall health of the nation declined over the past year, according to a report from the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention.
The report--the 18th annual edition of "America's Health Rankings: A Call to Action for People & Their Communities"--measured the overall healthiness of states and the nation based on a comprehensive set of health determinants and outcomes. The study factored 20 related health measures, including smoking, binge drinking, violent crime, infectious disease, high school graduation, health status and several measures of mortality.
While there have been modest gains in reducing cancer and cardiovascular mortality rates, the improvements are dwarfed by increases in obesity, the number of uninsured, children in poverty and risky health behaviors such as tobacco use, the report said.
"Even though specific mortality rates have improved, this report shows there are still many people who, through unhealthy personal behaviors, adverse community environments and difficult access to care, are vulnerable to a future life of poor health--which is essentially preventable," said Reed Tuckson, M.D., who serves on the UHF Board. "The consequence of this reality manifests itself in a poor quality of life, people living with chronic disease, compromised productivity and significant escalation in the costs associated with managing chronic illness."
Over the last six years, the report said, the nation's health "has virtually stagnated" due to obesity, a growing number of uninsured and persistent lack of progress in key health measures such as tobacco use, violent crime and children in poverty.
Obesity has increased from 11.6 percent of the population in 1990 to more than 25 percent today, the report said. More than 55 million Americans are obese and, as a result, are at significant risk for other diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer.
In addition, the report noted, the number of Americans who are uninsured has increased from 13.4 percent in 1990 to 15.8 percent today. According to the Institute of Medicine, people without health insurance are sicker and die sooner.
The report identified Vermont as the healthiest state in the country, followed by Minnesota, Hawaii, New Hampshire and Connecticut. Mississippi ranks as the least healthy state, with Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee completing the bottom five.
Although the U.S. can now celebrate its highest life expectancy in history (77.9 years), the report said 43 other countries still have life expectancies that are higher, including Japan, Sweden, France, Canada, Italy and Austraila.
For the entire report, visit
www.americashealthrankings.org.