Mississippi, Louisiana Ranked Unhealthiest States in America

Due to smoking rates, obesity, lack of exercise

A new report is showing the disparities between the most and least healthy states in America. Released by UnitedHealth Group's nonprofit, the report finds that the five least healthy states -- #46 South Carolina, #47 West Virginia, #48 Arkansas, #49 Mississippi and Louisiana, tied -- had smoking rates between 23.1 and 28.6 percent, and that 27.2 to 36 percent of people led a sedentary lifestyle (defined as 30 days of not exercising). Comparatively, the five healthiest states (#1 Vermont, #2 Hawaii, #3 New Hampshire, #4 Massachusetts, and #5 Minnesota) had smoking rates of only 16.8 to 19.4 percent, and 21 to 35 percent of their residents led a sedentary lifestyle. The rankings of the states are based on the results of telephone interviews. Determinants include smoking, binge drinking, obesity, high school graduation rates, sedentary lifestyle, children in poverty, infectious disease cases, air pollution, violent crime, health insurance, immunizations, primary care doctors, hospitalizations, and rate of conditions and deaths, such as cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. (Huffington Post)

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