U.S. health report card shows Obesity, Diabetes are major threats

Alarming rates of obesity and diabetes across the country pose major threats to the health of many Americans.

That’s one of the key findings in the 2012 edition of the America’s Health Rankings report card from the United Health Foundation. Dr. Reed Tuckson, chief of medical affairs for UnitedHealth Group, says every American and every community must take action to reverse the fact that 25% of U.S. adults are now obese.

The report lists Mississippi and Louisiana as the least healthy states due to their high prevalence of residents who are obese and have diabetes.

Those two states also have a high number of people who get little or no exercise. Rounding out the five unhealthiest states are Arkansas, West Virginia and South Carolina.

The Health Rankings report gives the best health grade to the state of Vermont for a sixth straight year. Vermont was cited for its low incidence of infectious disease, strong public health funding and its availability of primary care doctors.

Other states in the top five are Hawaii, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Minnesota.

MetroSource News contributed to this report.