Healthiest States
In America 2008
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How Healthy Is Your State?
That's what publisher CQ Press reveals in its 16th annual list.
Twenty-one factors from infant mortality to obesity to cancer rates are compiled for the rankings.
Click through our gallery to see which 15 states rank as the healthiest, then check out the 15 unhealthiest.
Next: No. 1 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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Beth Gauper, St. Paul Pioneer
No. 1: Minnesota
It has taken nine long years, but Minnesota is back as the Healthiest State in America. The North Star State last topped the rankings in 1999.
It ranks No. 1 in the categories of health insurance coverage and the number of adults who exercise.
Next: No. 2 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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Hector Mata, Getty Images
No. 2: New Hampshire
The Granite State scores second place this year, up from fifth place in 2007.
New Hampshire has the best scores in the categories of lowest rates of sexually transmitted diseases and lowest levels of teenage births.
Next: No. 3 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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Steve Northup, Time Life Pictures | Getty Images
No. 3: Vermont
Long-time winner of the top spot, the Green Mountain State lost its crown this year, and dropped two spots to come in third place.
On the plus side, Vermont is ranked as having the lowest rate of new AIDS cases reported.
Next: No. 4 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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No. 4: Maine
Despite having the highest rate of new cancer cases, the Pine Tree State is the fourth healthiest state in the U.S. again this year.
Maine has the second-lowest rate of sexually transmitted diseases.
Next: No. 5 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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No. 5: Massachusetts
The Bay State dropped from No. 3 to No. 5 this year.
Massachusetts has one of the lowest rates of teenage births and suicides in the nation. It also has the highest percentage of fully immunized children and the second-lowest percentage of obese adults.
Next: No. 6 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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Beth Gauper, St. Paul Pioneer Press / MCT
No. 6: Iowa
The Hawkeye State has ranked among the healthiest states ten of the past 11 years.
Areas where Iowa ranked most strongly are in the percentage of its population covered by health insurance and the rate of safety belt usage.
Next: No. 7 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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Robert Cross, Chicago Tribune/MCT
No. 7: Nebraska
The Cornhusker State drops one notch this year, but still lands as the seventh healthiest state in America.
Access to primary care and a high number of hospital beds available helped put Nebraska high on the list.
Next: No. 8 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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No. 8: Hawaii
The Aloha State, the healthiest state in 1997 and 1998, had dropped to the lower part of the top 10 over the past few years, but inched up one spot since last year.
Categories where Hawaii ranks highly include safety belt usage, low obesity rates, low level of adult smokers and strong health care coverage.
Next: No. 9 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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Scott Olson, Getty Images
No. 9: North Dakota
The Peace Garden State has hovered just outside the top 10 for the last five years ending in 2007, this year it leaps up three spots to come in ninth.
North Dakota ranks No.1 in the categories of lowest average annual health insurance premiums and highest number of hospital beds available.
Next: No. 10 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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No. 10: Rhode Island
The Ocean State makes the top 10 in 2008, inching up one spot from last year's eleventh position.
Rhode Island has one of the lowest suicide rates in America and the highest percentage of health insurance coverage for its children.
Next: No. 11 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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No. 11: Connecticut
The Constitution State moves up two spots, from No. 13 in 2007.
Connecticut has a low rate of teenage births, a high percentage of children covered by health insurance, a low percentage of adult smokers and a low percentage of obese adults.
Next: No. 12 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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Jeff Lawrence, MCT
No. 12: Utah
The Beehive State was the healthiest state back in 1993 and has consistently remained in the top 10, until this year.
On the plus side, it has the lowest rates of infant mortality, new cancer cases and adult smokers in the nation.
Next: No. 13 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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Mike Siegel, Seattle Times/MCT
No. 13: Washington
The Evergreen State fell one spot from 2007, landing at No. 13.
It has the third-lowest percentage of low birthweight births and the second-lowest percentage of infant mortality. It is also in the top five for having a low percentage of adult smokers and a high percentage of adults who exercise.
Next: No. 14 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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Beth Gauper, St. Paul Pioneer Press / KRT
No. 14: Wisconsin
The Badger State moved from No. 15 in 2007 to No. 14 this year.
Wisconsin has the highest percentage of binge drinkers, but scores well in health care coverage and in the percentage of adults who exercise.
Next: No. 15 Healthiest StateMore Rankings:
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Bo Rader, Wichita Eagle/MCT
No. 15: Kansas
In 2007, the Sunflower State climbed back into the top 10 for the first time since 2001 when it ranked seventh. This year, it drops back down a whopping five spots to No. 15.
Kansas still ranks in the top 10 though for having one of the lowest average annual health insurance premiums.
More: 15 Unhealthiest StatesMore Rankings:
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AP
More on AOL:
Unhealthiest States
Now that you've seen which states have received top marks for being the healthiest in the nation, check out which ones are at the opposite end of the scale.
Click through our gallery to see the 15 unhealthiest states in America.
· Unhealthiest States
Next: Most Dangerous StatesMore Rankings:
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Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
More on AOL:
Most Dangerous States
The two most populace states in the U.S., California and New York, don't have the best crime rates, but surprisingly, they are not among the top 15 most dangerous states. See which states do have the highest crime rates.
· 15 Most Dangerous States in U.S.
Next: Safest StatesMore Rankings:
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Hector Mata, Getty Images
More on AOL:
Safest States
Now that you've seen which states are the healthiest, unhealthiest and most dangerous, find out which are the safest states to live in.
· 15 Safest States in U.S.
Next: Cost of Retirement Hot SpotsMore Rankings:
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Retirement Hot Spots
Thinking about changing your address during your golden years? A move is a big decision that should be based on many factors, including what the cost of living will be. Bankrate has rounded up key stats on 62 popular retirement spots, we highlight 30 of them here.
Click through our gallery to check out the prospective communities. Compare the price of goods and services there, everything from the cost of a dozen eggs to median home prices. How Much Does It Cost in ... ?More in Money & Finance:
Recent Comments
DANIELLEFAULK27 07:50:52 PM Nov 27 2009
To the chick (CarlinaGrl) who said that in the South they are happier and nicer people.........If ya'll are so darn happy, then why the hell do you all have some of the higher rates of MURDER?? For such happy and nice people, yall sure like to bust caps off in each other LOL!
acetboiz 03:35:03 PM Dec 27 2008
where is california...its not on the most health states. or the most unhealthy states.which means its between the 20 states thats not included in any of these things.and yea.its a good state son
CarlinaGrl 01:37:11 PM Aug 23 2008
To the comment that all the unhealthiest states are in the South: HELLO, since when did #3 New Mexico, #4 Nevada, Oklahoma, Delaware, Arizona, and Alaska become Southern states?!??! It seems like the person who made this comment needs to go back to school! We might have some unhealthy states in the South, but we sure have nicer and happier people!
Jewel Box 926 03:06:13 PM Aug 21 2008
(cont.) ... from the best-connected families hold spooky rituals to demonstrate the crushing level of ennui with which they must deal) ~ most of the ignorance, however, is simply genetic or environmentally-influenced. Thank God my parents were not of that world. With an English teacher for a mother, and a journalist as my father, some way, somehow ... I survived the first 16 years of my life with a handful of working brain cells still intact, if not fully engaged.
Jewel Box 926 03:00:48 PM Aug 21 2008
rla 1903a4: I can answer that question. I grew up in Mississippi, 1956-1972. We then moved to Atlanta. kinda like the move Barney Fife made when he left Mayberry for "the bright lights of Mt. Pilot." From there, it was on to Chicago, 1992-2005, and I've ended up in Hell. I mean, The WB ~ West Bloomfield, Michigan. When I lived in Mississippi, the state was ranked #50 in education. Probably still is. It all starts with EDUCATION, or the lack thereof. So I wouldn't chalk it up to "lifestyle" or "economic reasons" because those two are merely "symptoms" of the disease. The thing that's killing folks in MS and these other states is good old-fashioned ignorance. Some of the "willful" variety (as in voting for Dubya, after they made him out to be a good ol' boy. Doesn't exactly synch up with his resume: Prep school cheerleader at exclusive Andover, followed by membership in world's creepiest fraternity, Skull 'n Bones, in which only the wealthiest brats from the best-connected fami
HOLEVACS 11:06:57 PM Jun 12 2008
Our country, not are country. How much money did OUR country waste on some peoples education?
Hugh8Jam 06:42:11 PM Jun 12 2008
If it means living up there to be healthy, I'd rather die early down here!
Mc52591 01:50:06 PM Jun 12 2008
Did you ever wonder how much money are country wastes on trival studies like this one?
MpcCares 11:57:21 AM Jun 12 2008
"Red States" have a far higher percentage of unhealthy! What a surprise...they do not believe in science.
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