CALIFORNIA BUSINESS MINUTE
Healthiest States
12-15-11
Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.
California improved its ranking jumping two spots to the 24th healthiest state
in the nation according to the annual report from the UnitedHealth Foundation,
the American Public Health Association and the Partnership for Prevention.
The report -- titled, "America's Health Rankings", examined data on 23 health
and socioeconomic indicators from the Center of Disease Control, the Census
Bureau and other federal agencies. The purpose of the report is designed to
help lawmakers improve public health. The following illustrates the “Top Ten
Healthiest States.”
TOP TEN HEALTHIEST STATES
1. Vermont
2. New Hampshire
3. Connecticut
4. Hawaii
5. Massachusetts
6. Minnesota
7. Utah
8. Maine
9. Colorado
10. Rhode Island
California's ranking this year marked an improvement from 2010, up from 26th.
However, in 2009, the state ranked 23rd.
According to the report, the state continues to have low smoking rates, low
infant mortality rates, few workplace deaths and high rates of early prenatal
care. The report found that the percentage of Californians who are obese dropped
from 25.5% in 2010 to 24.7% this year. Californians with diabetes has increased
from a low of 5.1 percent of the population in 1997 to a high of 9.1 in 2010.
However, the rate of adults with diabetes dropped since last year to 8.6% for
this year.
However, California still has high levels of air pollution, low immunization
rates among children and a high rate of residents who lack health insurance.
The report ranked Vermont as the healthiest state. The large GDP producing
states such as New York was ranked 18th, Illinois, 28th, Florida 33rd and Texas
44th. Mississippi was ranked as the least healthy state, the tenth year in a row.
To view the report, go to www.americashealthrankings.org
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