Here Are the Healthiest & Unhealthiest States in America
Introduction
The start of a new year often means revisiting goals like eating healthier, exercising more, losing weight, and getting rid of bad habits. Another resolution may be to manage money better. If that’s the case, you may be able to tackle both at once. Aside from the physical benefits of improving one’s health, some new year’s resolutions like losing weight can also save you money in the long run. We took a look at the healthiest and unhealthiest states in America to find out more about how health can impact your finances.
Image Description: A map of the United States highlighting the healthiest and unhealthiest states.
About This Data
To create this index, we looked at common health conditions in America, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, cigarette use, asthma, and depression. We took these conditions and weighted them equally to create a ranking of which states had the healthiest and unhealthiest people. The data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Here’s what we found.
Image Description: A visual representation of the data used to determine the health rankings.
Americans are Unhealthy
Americans have high rates of chronic health conditions, including high cholesterol (33%), high blood pressure (32.2%), diabetes (9.4%), and asthma (7.9%). Almost 14% of Americans use cigarettes, and 12.4% say they experience regular mental distress, according to CDC data. Health conditions vary widely across the country. Here’s a geographical look at the rankings.
Image Description: Statistics showing the prevalence of chronic health conditions in the U.S.
Exploring the Data
Healthiest State: Minnesota
Minnesota was ranked the healthiest state due to its low rates of high blood pressure (26.6%), asthma (7.3%), and cigarette use (14.5%).
Image Description: A scenic view of Minnesota representing its ranking as the healthiest state.
Unhealthiest State: West Virginia
West Virginia was ranked the unhealthiest state due to its high rates of high cholesterol (39.7%), cigarette use (26%), and high blood pressure (43.5%). The state’s asthma rate was nearly twice as high as Minnesota’s.
Image Description: A landscape view of West Virginia representing its ranking as the unhealthiest state.
How Does Health Impact Finances?
Living a healthy life can save you money in the long run. A recent study by researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that weight loss at any age leads to long-term savings. For example, a healthy 50-year-old could save up to $36,000 in direct medical costs and productivity loss.
Image Description: An infographic showing the financial benefits of maintaining good health.
But what about other habits like cigarette use? Quitting unhealthy vices can positively affect things like life insurance premiums. Insurers use your health information to determine how likely you are to die during the coverage term. This helps them set premium rates. The riskier and less healthy you are, the bigger the chance insurers will pay out a benefit, so they charge higher rates as a hedge against that risk.
Conclusion
Health and financial well-being are closely linked. Understanding the impact of chronic health conditions and taking steps to improve your health can lead to significant financial benefits. Whether it's quitting smoking, losing weight, or managing chronic conditions, improving your health can help you save money and enhance your quality of life.
Image Description: A happy and healthy family enjoying time together outdoors.
