2005 Results

The 2005 edition of America’s Health Rankings reports that Minnesota is the healthiest state. Vermont and New Hampshire are ranked second and third, followed by Utah, Hawaii and North Dakota. States rounding out the bottom of the list include Tennessee (48), Louisiana (49) and Mississippi (50).

As noted before, the trend of slowed health improvement, which began in 2000, was again demonstrated by the nominal 0.9 percent improvement in health status revealed in this year’s report. Challenges that impeded year-over-year improvement include an increase in the prevalence of obesity to 23.1 percent of the population and an increase in the number of children living in poverty.

History

America’s Health Rankings is a yearly analysis of the healthiness of the American population using information supplied by credible sources such as the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Education, and Labor, and the National Safety Council. Led by the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a prominent panel of public health scholars guides the methodology for the report. An independent research group analyzes the data to author the report.

About United Health Foundation

United Health Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit foundation funded solely by UnitedHealth Group. The foundation is dedicated to providing information in support of the health and medical decisions made by physicians and health professionals, individuals and community leaders.

For more information about United Health Foundation and its work, please visit www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.

About the American Public Health Association

The American Public Health Association, the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals, represents more than 50,000 members from over 50 public health occupations. More information is available at www.apha.org.

About Partnership for Prevention

Partnership for Prevention is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that develops evidence-based solutions to major national health challenges.

The partnership’s mission is to improve Americans’ health by preventing illness and injury and by promoting health. Its members include leading employers, health care providers, patient groups, health policy organizations, academic health centers and public health agencies. Information about policies and interventions to improve states’ health status can be found at www.prevent.org.