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We're (reasonably) healthy here in Idaho

By Colleen Lamay - clamay@idahostatesman.com

Published: 11/18/09


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Idaho dropped from eighth place to 12th place, according to an annual survey published jointly by United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association, and Partnership for Prevention. The No. 1 slot went to Vermont.

So Idaho slipped a little, but it remains among healthiest states.

The survey measures annual data on health care but also analyzes long-term trends. In Idaho, those trends show an encouraging drop in tobacco use, but an increase in obesity, according to a news release on the rankings.

Idaho’s overall score earned it 12th place, but the state hit the top 10 for several markers:

• Low incidence of infectious disease — fourth place

• Low rate of preventable hospitalizations — fifth place

• Low levels of air pollution — sixth place

• Low violent crime rate — seventh place

The survey tracks the incidence of smoking and obesity in all states over the past 20 years.

• In that time, the prevalence of smoking has dropped 7.3 percent, from 24.1 percent of the population in 1990 to 16.8 percent in 2009. • The percentage of obese Idahoans rose 13.1 percent, from 11.9 percent in 1990 to 25.1 percent this year.

If obesity rates in Idaho continue to rise at their current levels, obesity is projected to cost $1.56 billion, or $1,289 per adult, for state health care spending.

About the companies involved in the survey:

• United Health Foundation is a non-profit, private foundation established by UnitedHealth Group, a for-profit health company.

• The American Public Health Association is the oldest organization of public health professionals in the world.

• Partnership for Prevention is an organization of businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies dedicated to advancing policies and practices to prevent disease and improve health.

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