Here's to your health: Vermont tops list of healthiest states

Posted Apr 3rd 2007 11:01AM by Beth Gaston Moon
Filed under: Internet, Rants and Raves

Last week, I linked to an article on the 12 most dangerous (and safest) states, based on various violent-crime statistics. Many New England territories were among those judged as "safest," and for the sixth time in seven years, Vermont has now topped the charts as America's healthiest state (I guess the locally made Ben & Jerry's ice cream is enjoyed sparingly!). The rulings, published by Morgan Quitno Press for the past 15 years, are based on 21 factors, including teenage birth rate, health coverage, and rate of certain diseases.

Next on the list is Minnesota, hitting number one in terms of the percentage of residents who exercise regularly and those carrying health insurance. The New England region rounds out the top five, with Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire taking the three-through-five spots.

The remainder of the top 12:

6. Nebraska
7. Iowa
8. Utah
9. Hawaii
10. Kansas
11. Rhode Island
12. North Dakota

Most unhealthy state? The home of my entire extended family, Louisiana, which edges out last year's "winner," Mississippi. I blame the beignets ... they are irresistible! Throw in Hurricanes, oyster po-boys, king cake, and crawfish bisque, and you have a recipe for morbid obesity and heart disease. Enjoyed in moderation, however, all of these delicacies are worth their weight in ~~doubloons~~ gold.

For more details, read on.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

Tags: health, healthy states, HealthyStates, heart disease, HeartDisease, losing weight, LosingWeight, louisiana, misssippi, obesity, vermont, weight control, WeightControl