Here Is NJ’s Health, Wellness Rank In New Study

NEW JERSEY — Are New Jersey residents staying healthy and well? A new study reveals which states are the best places to live for well-being based on environment and healthy behaviors.

Spring Lake-based market researcher Ozmosi looked at health factors in all 50 states from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine a Healthiest States Index for 2023.

Data includes the rate of obesity, air quality, physical activity, health conditions such as cancer and heart disease, and consumption habits for food, alcohol, and tobacco.

Hawaii was the top ranked state with a score of 79.4 out of 100.

New Jersey is ranked 10th in the country based on the Ozmosi analysis with a score of 70.6. The state had a higher cholesterol prevalence among adults, but lower rates of obesity, smoking and binge drinking, and higher levels of exercise than some other states.

Still, 34 percent of New Jerseyans get less than seven hours of sleep a night. And, more than 35 percent of residents don’t get the recommended daily serving of fruit. New Jersey also had a higher annual average concentration of air pollution.

Kentucky and West Virginia were the bottom-ranked states on the Ozmosi list, both with scores of 40 out of 100.