Longevity Masks Unhealthy Lifestyles…..Rankings show too much obesity, smoking, sitting

USA Today (12-11-12)

Americans are living longer, with fewer deaths from heart disease and cancer, but more chronic illnesses, an annual snapshot of the USA’s health shows.  The 2012 American Health Rankings highlight troubling levels of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and sedentary behavior.   Medical advances are allowing more people to live with those conditions. 

For the sixth consecutive year, Vermont tops the list of healthiest states, says the report, which uses data from CDC and Prevention America Medical Association, Census Bureau and even the FBI.  It looks at 24 measures of heatlh, including tobacco and alcohol abuse, exercise, infectious diseases, crime rates, public health funding, access to immunization, premature birth rates, cancer and heart disease rates.

Top Five Rankings

1. Vermont

2. Hawaii

3. NH

4. Massachusetts

5. Minnesota

36. Georgia

Unhealty Conditions

26.2% who are physically inactive   

27.8 % of U.S. adults who are obese