This year, several states in the South rank as the least healthy states in the United States. Every year, America’s Health Rankings, a collaborative partnership between United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association, and Partnership for Prevention, provides an annual analysis of national health on a state-by-state basis, ranking them from the most to the least healthy. Researchers analyzed 22 different health measures, which are a combination of health determinants and health outcomes, to compile the rankings. Health determinants are factors that can affect the future health of a population. Health outcomes measure what has already occurred, either through death or missed days due to illness.

This year’s top 10 least healthy states are:

1. Louisiana
   Louisiana tops this year’s list of least healthy states, the same spot it occupied in the first rankings done in 1990. While the state does not rate worst on any single measure, it has the second highest number of cancer deaths and premature deaths as well as the second highest level of infant mortality. In addition, it makes the top 5 in obesity rate, violent crime, child poverty, rate of people uninsured, infectious diseases, and preventable hospitalizations. Bright spots are low levels of binge drinking and low numbers or poor mental health days.


2. Mississippi
   Louisiana’s neighbor Mississippi is runner up for least healthy state, as it was 19 years ago, although that is one spot better than last year when it topped the list. Having these two states top the list is not surprising because the Mississippi River delta is one of the poorest regions in America. Mississippi is worst in obesity rate, child poverty, and rate of cardiovascular –related deaths, second worst in number of poor mental days, infant mortality, and premature deaths. On the good side, the state is actually fourth best for low binge drinking rates and ranks in the top 15 for low levels of violent crime.


3. South Carolina
   Up six spots from last year, South Carolina is another Southern state with serious health issues. The state ranks worst in violent crime rate and second worst in high school graduation rate, and it is in the top ten for obesity rates, occupational fatalities, child poverty, infant mortality, and premature deaths. However, public health funding and immunization coverage are above average along with a low rate of binge drinking.


4. Tennessee
   Up one spot from last year, Tennessee is third worst on the list for violent crime and infant mortality, fourth worst in obesity and cancer deaths, and fifth worst for smoking, preventable hospitalizations, and cardiovascular deaths. On the plus side, Tennessee is tied for the lowest rate of binge drinking.


5. Texas
   Nine spots worse than last year, Texas has the second highest rate of child poverty in the nation and ranks worst in health insurance coverage. Bright spots include above average rankings in smoking, binge drinking, infant mortality rate, and cancer deaths.


6. Florida
   Florida ranks second worst for geographic disparity (differences in mortality rates among counties), third worst in infectious disease and health insurance coverage rates, and has the fifth highest rate of violent crime. Some positives include top ten rankings in obesity rates, air pollution, and immunization coverage.


7. Oklahoma
   Improving four spots from last year (but still 12 spots worse than the initial survey in 1990), Oklahoma has the second lowest number of primary care physicians per capita, the second highest rate of cardiovascular-related deaths, and the third highest smoking rate. The State is average in several areas including high school graduation rate, infectious disease rates, and air pollution. It ranks in the top 15 for lowest binge drinking rate and highest per capita public health funding.


8. Arkansas
   A success story on the list, Arkansas improved five spots this year and ranks 2 spots above its 1990 placement. Fifth worst in immunization coverage, Arkansas also has the sixth highest rate of obesity, occupational fatalities, poor physical health days, and premature deaths. The state is average in public health funding and geographic disparity and has the seventh lowest binge drinking rate of any state.


9. Nevada
   The lone Western state on the list is also the only state outside of the southern region to make the list. Nevada has the worst high school graduation rate in the nation, the only state with a rate below 60%, and also the worst immunization coverage. Nevada has the third most violent crime and the third lowest public health funding. On the other hand, it ranks in the top 15 for low air pollution, obesity rates, and preventable hospitalizations.


10. Georgia
    The Peach State is the worst for air pollution and also has the third lowest high school graduation rate in the nation and the fourth highest rate of infectious disease. The State dose rank above average in low smoking rates, high immunization coverage, and public health funding and boasts the nation’s ninth lowest rate of binge drinking.

Related blog post: The Top 10 Healthiest States in America

_{Source: America’s Health Rankings, 2008. http://www.americashealthrankings.org/2008}

_{Photo: colros, Flickr, Creative Commons}