Illinois ranks 30th in overall health of states
Illinois ranks 30th compared to the overall health of other states according to the recently released 2014 America's Health Rankings.
Rising rates of obesity and physical inactivity threaten Americans' quality of life, even as Americans progressed in several key health metrics in 2014, according to the 25th Anniversary Edition of America's Health Rankings: A Call to Action for Individuals & Their Communities.
Nationwide, obesity increased 7 percent from 27.6 percent to 29.4 percent of adults. Likewise, the percentage of adults who reported not participating in any physical activity in the last 30 days increased from 22.9 percent to 23.5 percent. At the same time, the number of Americans who smoke continued to decrease, declining by 3 percent this year, and has consistently declined over the past decade.
The report pointed out each state's strengths and challenges. Illinois' strengths include: low occupational fatalities rate; ready availability of primary care physicians; and ready availability of dentists, according to the report. Illinois' challenges include: a high prevalence of binge drinking; high levels of air pollution; and a high rate of preventable hospitalizations.
"For the last 25 years, United Health Foundation's annual America's Health Rankings has provided an invaluable look at the challenges and opportunities facing Illinois and how the picture of health in our state compares with those of our region and our nation," said Dr. Bruce Weiss, medical director, UnitedHealthcare of Illinois.
In the past year, immunization coverage among adolescents increased by 20 percent from 55.4 percent to 66.3 percent of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years through the focused or combined efforts of individual physicians, public health departments and school administrators in Illinois.
Even with a decrease of 11 percent from 73.1 to 65.2 per Medicare beneficiaries, Illinois is still experiencing a high rate of preventable hospitalizations. Illinois ranked 40th in that category.
To see the Rankings in full, visit www.americashealthrankings.org.