Vermont continues to be the healthiest state in the nation, according to America’s Health Rankings, which are based on a variety of factors, such as number of smokers, hospitalizations, infectious disease, obesity, child poverty and availability of health insurance. Vermont, in fact, has come out on top four years in a row. Vermont led the nation in low percentage of preterm births, high school graduation rate and the percentage of the population that eats enough fruits and vegetables.

 

The Northeast was well represented at the top of the rankings, with Massachusetts finishing second, New Hampshire third and Connecticut tied for fourth with Hawaii.

 

Coming in last was Mississippi, with Louisiana, Arkansas, Nevada and Oklahoma rounding out the bottom five. Mississippi had the nation’s worst rate of the highest rate of children living in poverty, the highest teen birth rate, the highest rate of preterm births, the highest infant mortality rate, the highest rate of obesity, the highest rate of cardiovascular deaths and the lowest per capita income.

 

Some Southern states saw improvement over last year’s ranking: Georgia climbed from 43rd to 36th and South Carolina from 46th to 41st.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

America’s Health Rankings® Indicates Overall Healthiness Slightly Improved, but Obesity, Children in Poverty, and Diabetes Worrisome for States’ Health (American Public Health Association)

Vermont Ranking (United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention)

Mississippi Ranking (United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention)