MN Ranked 6th Healthiest State in US
There is both good and bad news in the latest snapshot of the country’s overall health.
This year’s “ America’s Health Rankings “ report shows the country’s life expectancy has hit a record 78.8 years.
This is the 25th year the Minnesota-based United Health Foundation has conducted the in-depth study of the country’s lifestyles.
The foundation notes large strides have been made over the 25 years, including considerable decreases in premature death, infant mortality, cancer and cardiovascular deaths and smoking. But this year’s report notes increases in obesity and physical inactivity from 2013.
The obesity rate went up 7 percent from last year, rising to nearly a third of all adults in the country. It has nearly tripled during the past 25 years. The number of adults who have diabetes has risen to nearly 10 percent of the population, about twice as high as 20 years ago.
Minnesota still ranks in the top 10 healthiest states but it fell from 3rd in 2013 to 6th this year. Binge drinking is cited as a problem in Minnesota, involving a fifth of the state’s adults. About a fourth of Minnesota adults are considered obese and nearly a fifth use tobacco products.
Hawaii was listed the healthiest state this year. Mississippi was at the bottom of the list.
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