According to a report from the nonprofit United Health Foundation, the state of Vermont ranks as the healthiest state in America!   Not lucky enough (or healthy enough) to be from Vermont?  Find out where your state ranks and see what factors were taken into account to determine the health of each state by reading an excerpt from America’s Healthiest and Unhealthiest States, by Rebecca Ruiz at Forbes.com:

The annual ranking looks at 22 indicators of health, including everything from how many children receive recommended vaccinations, to obesity and smoking rates, to cancer deaths. (The foundation is funded by the insurer UnitedHealth Group).

Vermont ranked first this year thanks in part to its low rate of obesity, high number of doctors and a low rate of child poverty. New England in general sets a benchmark for the country, the report found. All six New England states are in the top 10. These states have favorable demographics and an excellent public health infrastructure, including a large number of doctors per capita.

Eight of the 10 bottom-ranked states are from the south, with Mississippi coming in dead last for the ninth consecutive year. Mississippi has a sky-high death rate from heart disease and high infant mortality. In general, residents of these states are more likely to be smokers or to be obese, the report found. They also have worse health insurance coverage, fewer physicians per capita and live in areas with high violent crime and more child poverty.

So which states were the healthiest in the bunch? And which states need a MAJOR health overhaul?

The 5 Healthiest States:

1. Vermont
2. Utah
3. Massachusetts
4. Hawaii
5. New Hampshire

The 5 Unhealthiest States:

46. South Carolina
47. Louisiana
48. Alabama
49. Oklahoma
50. Mississippi

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