Health Rankings
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: December 7, 2010
Americans are getting healthier but we have a long way to go to reverse the obesity trend. That's according to a new report outlining state-by-state health rankings.
America's annual check-up shows we've made slight health strides.
Dr. Reed Tuckson of the United Health Foundation says "we are finally after many years of stagnation starting to see some improvement in the health of the nation."
A new report from United Health Foundation finds smoking is at its lowest level in years, down to 18% from a high of nearly 30% in 1990.
But the good news is nearly extinguished by other statistics.
Dr. Tuckson says "27% of the American people are obese. That's a 132% increase since 1990 alone, which is extraordinary."
The report calls on all of us to step up now as individuals and as communities.
Dr. Tuckson says "community organizations, philanthropy, civic associations, volunteerism, we've gotta bring those resources to bear. If we put this all on the back of government, it just won't work. It can't work."
Volunteers lined up at a free health clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina Tuesday where an estimated 1,000 uninsured people saw doctors and dentists.
The new report found the number of Americans without health insurance rose slightly last year.
But there were other success stories. Minnesota and Iowa increased access to bike trails.
Dr. Tuckson says "in states like Louisiana, even with their challenges, that they have worked hard and have decreased their children in poverty rate by half, by 50%, since 1990."
Continued efforts like these could put the US back on the right path to better health in the coming years. The state-by-state breakdown can be found at www.americashealthrankings.org
