Americans are living longer, with fewer deaths from heart disease and cancer, but with more chronic illnesses, an annual report shows.
Americans live longer, but are less healthy
Report shows obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and sedentary behavior.
December 11, 2012 at 7:58PM
The 2012 America's Health Rankings highlight troubling levels of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and sedentary behavior. Medical advances are allowing more people to live with those conditions.
The bottom line: Americans "are living longer, sicker" with more chronic illness, says Reed Tuckson of the United Health Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation that sponsors the report with the American Public Health Association and the Partnership for Prevention.
Minnesota ranks fifth among the healthiest states. For the sixth year, Vermont tops the list.
Some key findings:
- Percentage of U.S. adults who are obese: 27.8%
- Percentage who are physically inactive: 26.2%
- Percentage who smoke: 21.2%
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