How Unhealthy Is Your State?

If you live in Mississippi, you may want to think about moving, or at least going on some long jogs.

A recent study put out by the United Health Foundation ranked all 50 states in terms of healthiness, and found Mississippi to be the unhealthiest state in the nation, followed by Oklahoma. Vermont, on the other hand, was the healthiest state.

One particularly interesting result in the study is that eight of the ten least healthy states were in the south, while all six states in New England were ranked in the top 10.

So how did the process work?

The annual study takes in to account a wide range of health factors, including smoking rates, obesity, air pollution and the percentage of children who get vaccinated. The report found that people who live in the south are more likely to be obese or to be smokers.

This is the ninth consecutive year that Mississippi came in dead last. According to USA Today, “Mississippi is singled out for high rates of obesity, infant mortality and death from cardiovascular disease.” Vermont, on the other hand, has been on top now for three years, thanks to better than average smoking rates and obesity.

Still, even some of the unhealthiest states found cause for celebration from the results.