2014 America's Health Rankings

The 2014 America’s Health Rankings: A Call to Action for Individuals and their Communities report, reflects 25 years of health data and analysis for each state.  America’s Health Rankings is the longest-running state-by-state analysis of the nation’s health.

At an event celebrating the 25^th anniversary of America’s Health Rankings, experts who collectively represent a diverse range of practices within the health care profession explored the changes that have occurred in health over the past 25 years. Panelists also provided insight on how we must move forward to continue to make progress in community health outcomes.

Each panel member offered their perspectives through their own public health lenses, but all stressed the same message— while gains have been made within our health system, as a nation we have a long way to go. Health outcomes in the U.S. are much worse compared to other westernized countries, despite spending more than 18 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product on health spending. Panelists underscored the importance of reframing the health conversation to one focused on prevention rather than medical care.

Other findings discussed include:                                                                   

• Physical inactivity remains high at 23.5% of adults and has not changed appreciably for the last decade
• Since 1990, obesity has increased 153% from 11.6% to 29.4% of adults
• In the last two decades, the prevalence of low birthweight infants has increased from 7.1% to 8.0% nationwide, though it appears to have peaked and is trending downward

In this year’s America’s Health Rankings, the top ranked state was Hawaii and the lowest ranked state was Mississippi. Find where your state ranks by visiting America’s Health Rankings