Hawaii Tops America’s Health Rankings 2014
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Ridofranz/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The United Health Foundation released its annual report on America’s health rankings on Wednesday, with the healthiest and least healthy states from 2013 retaining their titles.
According to the report, Hawaii is once again the healthiest state in the nation, while Mississippi remains the least healthy. Each of those states have held those titles for three consecutive years.
Vermont — the last state besides Hawaii to be selected as America’s healthiest state — was named the second healthiest state in the nation, with Massachusetts, Connecticut and Utah rounding out the top five.
Arkansas was chosen as the second-least healthy state, with Louisiana, Kentucky and Oklahoma finishing in the bottom five.
The UHF has released the report for 25 years, and in that time, New York has seen the largest jump — from 40th most healthy state in 1990 to 14th this year.
The report listed the average life expectancy at a record high 78.8 years old. Across the country, the report says, smoking is down three percent, infant mortality is down four percent and immunizations are up five percent. Despite plenty of positive change, obesity is also up two percent, according to the UHF.
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