Washington A Top 10 Healthiest State In The U.S., Report Says

SEATTLE, WA - Washington is among the top 10 healthiest states in the U.S., according to United Health Group’s 2017 rankings. The rankings place Washington as the 9th healthiest state in the country, and the only West Coast state in the top 10.

The group’s annual “America’s Health Rankings” report published this month looks at 35 measures covering behaviors, community and environment, policy, clinical care and outcomes data. The report’s executive summary says that the country is facing serious public health challenges, including rising rates of premature death and an uneven concentration of health care providers.

According to the report, the premature death rate (death before the age of 75) increased for the third straight year. 2017 also saw an increase in the rates of cardiovascular and drug deaths nationwide. The report also found a wide disparity in the concentration of both mental health providers and of primary care physicians and dentists in the country.

The healthiest states in the U.S. for 2017 are:

1. Massachusetts
2. Hawaii
3. Vermont
4. Utah
5. Connecticut
6. Minnesota
7. Colorado
8. New Hampshire
9. Washington
10. New York

The states that rank at the bottom of the report are:

1. West Virginia
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. Louisiana
5. Mississippi

According to the report, some of Washington's strongest points are low smoking rates, low preventable hospitalization rate, and a low number of underweight babies. The population of uninsured people also dropped 56 percent over the past five years from 14.2 percent to 6.3 percent of the population.

Some weak points: diabetes is on the rise with a 12 percent increase over the last year. Washington also has a high rate of whooping cough (pertussis), and the state has the highest disparity in health coverage by education attainment.

Washington has also seen an increase in the percent of children living in poverty, about 15 percent.

See the full report on health in the U.S. and in Washington.

Caption: Mona Camann, 30, says goodbye to her family, Katie Huerta, 10, center, Kaleb Huerta, 12, left, and husband, Brent Camann, far left, 35, before she starts the 26-mile Seattle Marathon Sunday, Nov. 27, 2005 at the Seattle Center. This is Camann's first marathon and will be the longest distance she ever runs. When asked how they feel about their mom running the marathon Kaleb said, "She's the best."

Photo by Julie Busch/Associated Press