Vermont Tops List of Nation's Healthiest States - East Idaho News
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Vermont Tops List of Nation’s Healthiest States

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GETTY H 111710 BloodPressure?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1355463341971Darrin Klimek/Digital Vision/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The state of your health may depend on the state where you live. If that’s true, then Vermont residents are in luck. Vermont is the healthiest state in the union, according to America’s Health Rankings annual report — the longest-running state-by-state analysis of the country’s health and the factors that affect it.   
 
Why Vermont? The report cites the Green Mountain State for:

  • a high rate of high-school graduation
  • a low violent crime rate
  • a low incidence of infectious disease, and
  • high per capita public health funding

Hawaii came in second, followed by New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Connecticut, Utah, New Jersey, and Maine.
 
In fact, seven of the top 10 states are in the northeast.
 
Louisiana and Mississippi are tied for last place. Both states are cited for high rates of obesity, diabetes, and a sedentary lifestyle, according to the report.
 
The authors say they hope the rankings prod individuals, elected officials, medical professionals, and employers to improve public health.    
 
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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