The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released its annual report on all live births in America for the year 2006, and it showed that for the first time in 15 years, the birth rate for teenagers aged 15–19 years increased, up 3 percent from 2005. Only the rate for the youngest adolescents declined in 2006, to 0.6 per 1,000 people aged 10–14 years. Birth rates for teenagers aged 15–17 and 18–19 years rose between 3 and 4 percent each. These increases follow huge declines of 45 and 26 percent, respectively, in the rates between 1991 and 2005. Teen birth rates increased significantly between 2005 and 2006 in 26 states, representing nearly every region of the country. Below is a list of the states with the highest teen birth rates in 2006. The rates per 1,000 females aged 15-19 are listed in parentheses.

The top 10 states with the highest teen birth rates for 2006 are:

1. Mississippi (68.4 births per 1,000 females aged 15-19). Also topping the list in 1991, Mississippi saw its teen birth rate decline 29 percent between 1991 and 2005, but it jumped 13 percent in 2006.
2. New Mexico (64.1). This Southwestern state saw a decline of 23 percent in the teen birth rate over 14 years but the rate held steady in 2006.
3. Texas (63.1). Texas’s teen birth rate rose a modest 2 percent in 2006 after experiencing a 21 percent decline over the previous 14 years.
4. Arkansas (62.3). This Southern state had an increase of 5 percent over last year, reversing a 26 percent decline between 1991 and 2005.
5. Arizona(62.0). Arizona’s teen birth rate rose 7 percent over last year and is a nearly 1.5 times the national average.
6. Oklahoma (59.6). After seeing a decline of 25 percent over 14 years, the rate of teen births in the Sooner state rose 10 percent from 2005.
7. Nevada (55.8). This Western state experienced the largest decline on the list over the previous 14 years, down one-third from 1991-2005. Unfortunately, Nevada reversed the trend and saw an 11 percent increase in 2006.
8. Tennessee (54.7). Tennessee’s teen birth rate was unchanged from 2005, but decreased 27 percent in the previous 14 years.
9. Kentucky (54.6). Tennessee’s neighbor to the North, Kentucky has a nearly identical teen birth rate, but for the Bluegrass State this represents an increase of 11 percent over 2005.
10. Georgia (54.2). Georgia’s teen birth rate declined 31 percent from 1991-2005 but creeped back up 3 percent in 2006.

If you have questions about teenage pregnancy, join the Healia Health Community for Teen Health or the Healia Health Community for Pregnancy, or ask the experts at Healia Health Communities.

Related blog post:  The Top 10 States with the Lowest Teen Birth Rates

_{Source: CDC, Births: Final data for 2006. National vital statistics reports; vol 57 no 7. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_07.pdf}

Every new year, many people make resolutions to lose weight. In honor of this fact, here is the list of states that have a little bit more work to do in the waitsline department. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has compiles data on obesity rates throughout America and the following is a list of the states with the highest proportion of obese adults.

State health departments use standard procedures to collect data through a series of monthly telephone interviews with U.S. adults. Obesity is determined by using height and weight information to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. The following states have the highest percentage of the adult population who are obese with the percent in parentheses.

The top 10 fattest states in America are:

1. Mississippi (32% of adults are obese)
2. Alabama (30.3%)
3. Tennessee (30.1%)
4. Louisiana (29.8%)
5. West Virginia (29.5%)
6. Arkansas (28.7%)
7. South Carolina (28.4%)
8. Georgia (28.2%)
9. Oklahoma (28.1%)
10. Texas (28.1%)

For information on how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, see the Healia Health Guide on Weight Management. If you have questions about your weight and how it affects your health, or to find support from others who are also struggling with weight management, join the Healia Health Community on Obesity and Overweight.


_{Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, [2007].}

_{Photo: alexstaubo, Flickr, Creative Commons}

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently compiled a list of the top states with the highest reported cases of AIDS. Although most cases of HIV/AIDS occur outside the United States, more than a million people were living with AIDS in the U.S. as of 2003. The CDC estimates that as many as 24-27% of people infected with HIV were unaware of their infection. CDC statistics on HIV and AIDS in the U.S. report data by age, race, state, and transmission category.

The top 10 states with most reported cases of HIV and/or AIDS in 2006 are:

1. New York (5,495 reported cases)
2. Florida (4,932)
3. California (3,960)
4. Texas (2,998)
5. Pennsylvania (1,893)
6. Maryland (1,626)
7. Georgia (1,605)
8. Illinois (1,382)
9. North Carolina (1,229)
10. New Jersey (1,065)

Discuss AIDS with other people in the HIV/AIDS community in Healia Communities.


_{Data source: CDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report: Cases of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2006.http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm#area}

_{Photo: Alex Castella,Flickr, Creative Commons}

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}

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 healthiest states are: This year’s top 10 healthiest states are:

1. Vermont
   Vermont tops the list as the healthiest state for the second year in a row. A broad range of health initiatives has helped smoking rates decline to 17.6 percent of the population, slow the rise in obesity below the U.S. national average, and keep the number of people without health insurance low..


2. Hawaii
   Hawaii is tops in air pollution, has a low smoking rate and is tied for second for the lowest rate of obesity. On the other hand, Hawaiians have one of the highest rates of binge drinking.


3. New Hampshire
   The Granite State boasts the lowest rate of child poverty and highest immunization rate along with the third lowest rate of violent crime. However, lower than average public health funding and high numbers of poor mental health kept it from topping the list.


4. Minnesota
   Dropping down from last year’s number 2 spot, Minnesota is still tops in both cardiovascular deaths and premature deaths and also has low smoking rates. The low rate of public health spending, high binge drinking, and merely average obesity rate dragged Minnesota down this year.


5. Utah
   This Western state is tops in smoking rate at 11.7% of adults, nearly 3 percent fewer than number two finisher California. Utah is in the top ten on most parameters, however a high occupational fatality rate, high levels of uninsured people, low immunization coverage and a bottom ten finish in physicians per capita work against it.


6. Massachusetts
   Tops in occupational fatalities and health insurance coverage, Massachusetts also has low smoking and obesity rates, but high binge drinking rates and average levels of violent crime high school graduation rates and child poverty land it at number six.


7. Connecticut
   Tied for the top spot in immunization coverage, Connecticut also boasts low smoking and obesity rates. However, average levels of binge drinking and child poverty along with high rates of infectious disease and low public health funding keep Connecticut from climbing higher on the list.


8. Idaho
   Low rates of violent crime, infectious disease, and air pollution along with better than average rates of smoking, obesity, binge drinking, and high school graduation rates temper Idaho’s 45^th place ranking in immunization coverage and dead last finish in physicians per capita.


9. Maine
   The fourth state from the Northeast to make the top 10, Maine has the lowest violent crime rate of any state and also boasts low rates of infectious disease and good insurance coverage. Below average rankings on smoking and binge drinking rates as well as poor immunization coverage and high cancer deaths keep Maine below its Northeastern brethren on the list.


10. Washington
    This West Coast state is tops in infant mortality and boasts a top six finish in smoking rates, child poverty, preventable hospitalizations, and occupational fatalities, but the state also ranks 48^th in immunization coverage and ranks below average in poor physical health days and geographical disparity (differences in of mortality rate among counties).

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

_{Photo: Paraflyer, Flickr, Creative Commons}

A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that the Southern United States has some of the highest levels of obesity. Mississippi has had the highest obesity rate every year since 2004. Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Louisiana have also clustered near the top of the list.

The South is known for a traditional Southern diet that is high in fat and fried foods. This type of diet along with a sedentary lifestyle is likely the reason for their high obesity rates.

1. Mississippi, 32.0 percent
2. Alabama, 30.3
3. Tennessee, 30.1
4. Louisiana, 29.8
5. West Virginia, 29.5
6. Arkansas, 28.7
7. South Carolina, 28.4
8. Georgia, 28.2
9. Oklahoma, 28.1
10. Texas, 28.1 

 

An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning linked to uncooked tomatoes was reported this week in Texas, New Mexico, and possibly seven other states. At least 17 people in Texas and New Mexico have been hospitalized and 40 cases have been reported. An investigation by Texas and New Mexico health authorities and the Indian Health Service linked those cases to uncooked large tomatoes.

Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria species called Salmonella. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. In some patients, Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other organs and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness (CDC).