Nevada Near The Bottom For Healthiest States

Are you living your healthiest life? The United Health Group has released their list of the healthiest states in America for 2017 and Nevada is ranked in the bottom 15 in the nation.

The Silver State was named the 37 healthiest state in the country, according to the report.

The rankings are based on the World Health Organization's definition of health, which states, "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

States are ranked in five categories. The rankings take into consideration a state's health policy, community and environment, the behaviors of its citizens, and clinical care. Those four criteria equal the state's "health outcomes."

Nevada's rankings in those categories are:

• Behaviors: 32
• Community & Environment: 32
• Policy: 43
• Clinical care: 35
• Health outcomes: 35

Positives for Nevada

Despite the low rankings in those five categories, the findings weren't all bad for Nevada. The report contained several positive details about Nevada's overall health.

• Nevadans have cut back on cigarette smoke significantly in the last five years, ranking among the top five states with the largest decrease in percentage of adult smokers from 2012 to 2017.
• The number of children living in poverty in Nevada decreased by over nine percent since 2012, making it among the top four states in the nation (including Washington, D.C.) with the largest percentage decrease in that category. Nevada had the sixth lowest percentage of children living in poverty at 11.4 percent, below the national average of 18 percent.
• Nevada was ranked in the top 10 for the lowest obesity rate among adults.
• Nevada was ranked eighth for the lowest rate of infectious disease. The diseases the study looked at were chlamydia, pertussis, and salmonella.
• Nevadans are eating well, according to the report. The state received high grades in the number of fruits and vegetables consumed daily by adults.

Negatives for Nevada

There are several areas Nevada can improve on to change their ranking at the bottom of the list.

• Air pollution has decreased nationwide since 2012, but Nevada was just one of three states to see an increase in air pollution over the five year span. The state was ranked 43rd
• Nevada experienced the second largest increase in cardiovascular deaths since 2012.
• The national average for drug overdose death per 100,000 population is 15, but in Nevada that number is higher. Nevada ranks 42nd in the country for drug overdose deaths, with 20 deaths for every 100,000 citizens. The report indicates that six out of 10 overdose deaths involve opioids.
• Many more Nevadans are insured now than were in 2012. Nevada ranks among the top three states in the largest percentage decrease of uninsured residents over that five year span. However the state still ranks 44th nationally in that area.
• Nevada's education struggles were documented in the report. The state's high school graduation rate was 49th in the country at 71.3 percent, below the national average of 83.2.
• Based on murder, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery, Nevada was ranked 48th in the country.
• Nevada was ranked dead last in the country for public health funding, spending just $41 per person. That number is well below the national average of $86 per person.
• Nevada was ranked 45th in the nation in the rate of mental distress among residents and 40th in physical distress.

Nevada's 37th overall ranking is a two spot drop from a year ago, when it was ranked 35. To read the entire report, click the following link.

United Health Group 2017 Rankings

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