Forbes Advisor released a report on “States With The Least Healthy Populations,” and they ranked Charleston as being the 9th least healthy state in the country.
The Forbes Advisor team say they analyzed 21 key metrics using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Findings for the Top Five Least Healthy States:
- West Virginia: West Virginia ranked worst in the nation for cancer incidence rate (709.10 residents have cancer per 100,000), percentage of adults who smoke (22.8%), and drug overdose deaths (57.13 per 100,000 state residents).
- Mississippi: The Magnolia State has the highest percentage of obese adults in the nation (39.87%), the lowest life expectancy at birth (73.63 years) and the highest percentage of adults who did not exercise in the past month (32.87%).
- Kentucky: Kentucky is home to the second highest percentage of smokers nationwide (21.53%) and the second highest percentage of adults who did not exercise in the past month (31.3%). The Bluegrass State also reported the third highest cancer mortality rate (223.91 deaths per 100,000 state residents).
- Alabama: Residents of the Yellowhammer State are most likely in the country to report opioid misuse (5.3%). Alabamians also have the third lowest life expectancy in the nation (74.5 years) and rank second highest in the nation for Alzheimer's disease deaths (55.35 per 100,000 state residents).
- Arkansas: Arkansas reported the second highest number of heart disease deaths (280.48 per 100,000 state residents) and Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease deaths (78.92 per 100,000 state residents). The state is also home to the third highest percentage of smokers nationwide (20.6%).
To see the full report, click here.
