Obesity Undercuts Gains in U.S. Health

Nov. 8, 2004 -- Rapidly rising obesity rates and a startling increase in child mortality are holding back gains in Americans' overall health, concludes an annual 50-state survey conducted by nonprofit public health groups Monday.

The survey has documented steady improvements in a host of health indicators across the country since 1990 in areas including deaths from infectious diseases, motor vehicle accidents, and violent crime. But experts now warn that gains seen up until 2000 have leveled off to near stagnation.

"We're not really making progress year over year," says Reed Tuckson, MD, vice president of the United Health Foundation, one of three groups releasing the study.

Tuckson cites a near-doubling in national obesity rates since 1990 as a major drag on what could otherwise be an improving health picture for Americans. While death from violent crimes, cancer, infectious diseases, and car accidents are down, those gains appear to be at least partially erased by a 23% obesity rate in the adult population.

Tuckson also says that experts are "startled" that infant mortality ticked upward in 2004 for the first time in 40 years. Rising poverty levels, less access to health insurance, and stagnant smoking rates appear to be playing a role, according to the report.

The 2004 results for America's Health: State Health Rankings are listed below, with the top of the list being the healthiest. The scores represent how a state compares with the national norm. For example, a state with a score of 10 is 10% above the national average. A negative score means a state is below the national average.

Rank/State/Score:

1 Minnesota 25.0
2 New Hampshire 23.9
3 Vermont 22.8
4 Hawaii 17.7
5 Utah 17.6
6 Massachusetts 17.3
7 North Dakota 15.8
8 Connecticut 15.0
9 Wisconsin 14.4
10 Maine 13.7
11 Iowa 13.2
12 Nebraska 11.7
13 Colorado 11.6
14 Rhode Island 10.9
15 Washington 9.1
16 Kansas 7.3
17 New Jersey 7.2
18 Idaho 6.4
19 South Dakota 6.3
20 Virginia 5.9
21 Oregon 5.2
22 California 3.6
23 Arizona 3.0
24 Alaska 2.9
25 Pennsylvania 2.8
26 Montana 2.1
26 Ohio 2.1
28 Wyoming 2.0
29 Illinois 0.3
29 Michigan 0.3
31 New York 0.1
32 Delaware -0.1
32 Indiana -0.1
34 Maryland -2.0
35 Texas -2.7
36 Missouri -4.2
37 Nevada -5.8
38 New Mexico -6.6
39 Kentucky -7.1
40 Oklahoma -7.2
41 North Carolina -7.5
42 Florida -8.4
43 Alabama -10.4
43 West Virginia -10.4
45 Georgia -11.1
46 Arkansas -12.1
47 South Carolina -12.9
48 Tennessee -13.1
49 Mississippi -20.2
50 Louisiana -21.3