For the third year in a row, Vermont has been ranked the healthiest state in the country. United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention say in their 20th anniversary edition of America's Health Rankings that Vermont is the healthiest state.
But where does that leave Texas? Well, with Tex-Mex enchiladas, and Sunday afternoon barbeques, Texas came in at 39. That's good news because in 2008 we ranked 40th.
The report went on to say that between 1988 and 2008 the men of Texas gained an average of 24.2 pounds - over 1 pound per year. Texas women gained an average of 22.6 pounds. But then again, everything is bigger in Texas.
But this isn't just about weight gain. The report lists each state's strengths and challenges. For Texas they said we do a great job at immunizing our children, we have a relatively low rate of cancer deaths.
But they say our biggest challenges are that so many Texans are uninsured and we have a high percentage of children in poverty. The report also said Texans have a high incidence of infectious disease - 22.6 cases per 100,000 population. They go on to say that the indicators point to a decline in overall healthiness over time.
What's so good about Vermont? Vermont was ranked ninth best for the lowest number of people lacking health insurance, second in both public health funding and in keeping its violent crime rate low and fourth best for fewest children living in poverty.
Vermont also had rates of smoking and obesity that were below the national averages.
If you want to know more about how Texas stacks up against other states when it comes to health, or other facts, like how much obesity is costing our state, go to www.americashealthrankings.org.
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