Minnesota Is Healthiest State, Foundation Says

Key national findings contained in this year’s report include a 14% increase in the overall national composite score, used to represent healthiness since 1990. Reasons for the steady improvements include a 6.3% nationwide drop in the percentage of Americans who smoke, a 36% decrease in motor-vehicle deaths and a low unemployment rate. Other factors include a 7% increase in the number of women who receive prenatal care, a doubling of public health-care support, a reduction in heart disease, a 30% reduction in infant mortality and fewer premature deaths overall. During the last year, however, there has been a 3.3% decline in the overall national composite healthiness score.

The rankings are available online at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org