A new study has determined the regions with the most unhealthy population in the United States. Forbes Advisor did the analysis and assessed each state using a variety of criteria, including drug addiction rates, poor lifestyle habits, and chronic disease. Chronic diseases are defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as health disorders that last a year or more and necessitate ongoing medical care. According to the CDC, these disorders, which include heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are the top causes of mortality and disability in the country.
West Virginia is the most unhealthy state in America
West Virginia is the most unhealthy state in America. According to Forbes Advisor, Mountain State, which is considered the epicentre of America’s opioid issue, has the highest drug overdose death rate in the nation. The use of fentanyl and the so-called “zombie drug” xylazine has recently exacerbated the state’s pandemic, according to NewsNation. West Virginia also has the highest adult smoking rate (21%), the highest adult obesity rate (41%), and the second shortest life expectancy in the US (73.9 years).
According to the report, Mississippi, the second unhealthiest state, has the shortest life expectancy, at 73.63 years. The Magnolia State has high rates of chronic diseases, including the nation’s highest cancer mortality rate (17.37 deaths per 100,000 state population). According to the data, Mississippi has higher rates of diabetes and hypertension, with 43.9% of adults diagnosed with high blood pressure and 13.7% with diabetes.
Aside from West Virginia and Mississippi, six more southern states are among the top ten least healthy:
- West Virginia
- Mississippi
- Tennessee
- Arkansas
- Kentucky
- Alabama
- Louisiana
- Oklahoma
- Ohio
- Indiana
Hawaii, one of the most beautiful states in the United States, has the best health outcomes. According to the Forbes Advisor survey, inhabitants of Hawaii have the longest life expectancy in the country (80.87 years), and the frequency of chronic diseases is significantly lower than in other states. Minnesota is the only Midwestern state ranked in the top ten healthiest. Five East Coast states were also on the list, while the others are spread across the West:
- Hawaii
- Utah
- Connecticut
- Minnesota
- Massachusetts
- Colorado
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- Washington
- New York
As you can see, California did not make the top ten of either list. According to Forbes, California is the 38th least healthy state in the United States. Forbes Advisor conducted their analysis, which can be viewed in full here, using data from the CDC, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.