Minnesota sets bar on health again

By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY

Americans looking for a long life may want to move to Minnesota.

The land of 10,000 lakes has been named the healthiest state for the fourth consecutive year, according to a report released today by the United Health Foundation, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting healthy communities.

The foundation, which worked with American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention, rated each state on 20 key measures of wellness, such as the rates of cancer, smoking, car accidents and high school graduation.

Minnesota, whose score is 21% higher than the national average, stands out for many reasons, the report says. It has the country's lowest uninsured rate, 8.4%, and few children live in poverty or die as infants.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty credits a state health insurance program for the working poor, along with social safety-net programs for children, for helping Minnesotans get the medical care they need.

The state also has an outdoorsy, health-conscious culture and a low unemployment rate, Pawlenty says.

Louisiana, whose uninsured population rose 9% in the past year, ranked as the unhealthiest state. Louisiana has fared near the bottom since the rankings began in 1990. The state faces many challenges confronting the rest of the USA: high rates of obesity, children in poverty, infant mortality and overall premature death.

Overall, the nation's health is stagnating, says Reed Tuckson, the foundation's senior vice president. Though health has improved by nearly 19% since 1990, researchers say, nearly all of that progress was made during the '90s. The country is no healthier today than it was in 2000, Tuckson says.

Several key problems, such as obesity, tobacco use and the large number of uninsured, are damaging the nation's health. In 1990, 11.6% of Americans were obese. Today, nearly 25% are obese.

The number of Americans who are uninsured has grown from 13.4% to 15.9% in the same time, according to the report.

The infant mortality rate is especially shameful, Tuckson says. In a list of 36 nations, the USA shares last place with the tiny countries of Andorra, Cuba, Croatia and Estonia.

The nation also could be much healthier if fewer people smoked, says Corinne Husten of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fewer than 7% of women in the U.S. Virgin Islands smoke, Husten says, suggesting it's possible to reduce the nation's overall adult smoking rate of 21%.

Smoking causes about 440,000 deaths a year in the USA, the American Heart Association says.

Even at No. 1, Pawlenty says, Minnesota can still do better.

"We are not living as healthy as we should, and we are dying too soon. There is nothing more worthy of a sustained national conversation than this."

http://www.usatoday.com/n...alth_x.htm

Yes, but what COLOR is it?????

Ain't it purple anymore?

PANDURITO said:

only during football season.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

[vikings galore was here]

2006 Overall America's Health Rankings

2006 RANK (1-50) - STATE - SCORE*

1 - Minnesota - 21.2
2 - Vermont - 20.5
3 - New Hampshire - 18.9
4 - Hawaii - 17.9
5 - Connecticut - 17.2
6 - Utah - 16.3
7 - Massachusetts - 15.3
8 - North Dakota - 15.0
9 - Maine - 13.7
10 - Wisconsin - 13.3
11 - Iowa - 12.5
12 - Nebraska - 12.4
13 - Rhode Island - 11.4
14 - New Jersey - 11.0
15 - Washington - 10.2
16 - Colorado - 8.9
17 - Kansas - 7.9
18 - South Dakota - 7.5
19 - Idaho - 6.5
19 - Oregon - 6.5
21 - Virginia - 5.7
22 - Montana - 4.9
23 - California - 4.7
23 - Wyoming - 4.7
25 - Illinois - 3.7
25 - Ohio - 3.7
27 - Michigan - 2.3
28 - Pennsylvania - 1.8
29 - New York - 1.1
30 - Delaware - -0.6
31 - Alaska - -0.8
32 - Maryland - -2.7
33 - Indiana - -3.7
34 - Arizona - -4.0
35 - Missouri - -4.1
36 - North Carolina - -4.3
37 - Texas - -4.7
38 - Nevada - -8.4
39 - Kentucky - -10.1
40 - New Mexico - -10.4
41 - Florida - -10.6
42 - Georgia - -11.7
43 - West Virginia - -12.8
44 - Oklahoma - -13.1
45 - Alabama - -14.8
46 - Arkansas - -16.1
47 - Tennessee - -16.2
48 - South Carolina - -16.4
49 - Mississippi - -19.9
50 - Louisiana - -20.4

*Scores presented in the tables indicate the percentage a state is above or below the national norm. For example, a state with a score of 20 is 20 percent above the national average for that component. A negative score means the state is below the national average.

http://www.unitedhealthfo...l#Findings

yay me! and yay Minnesota!

CarrieMpls said:

Are you still not smoking?

sextonseven said:

I'm still not smoking. Since October 1st. I have cheated a few times, but overall I'm a non-smoker.

CarrieMpls said:

You keep on keepin' on!