Originally Posted by American Public Health Association

U.S. Health Stagnates for Fourth Year in a Row as Revealed in 2008 America’s Health Rankings

Obesity, smoking, and lack of health insurance remain critical areas for national improvement

Vermont ranks as nation’s healthiest state, Louisiana as least healthy state

MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 3, 2008) — In a disturbing development, the 2008 America’s Health Rankings™: A Call to Action for Individuals & Their Communities revealed that the health of Americans has failed to improve for the fourth consecutive year. Key factors contributing to these results included unprecedented levels of obesity, an increasing number of uninsured people, and the persistence of risky health behaviors, particularly tobacco use.