Annual Rankings Show Decline in Nation’s Health

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.