2012 Healthiest State List Released - NJ Climbs Up The Ranks - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

2012 Healthiest State List Released - NJ Climbs Up The Ranks

According to the 'Healthiest State Rankings of 2012' report released by UnitedHealth Group's nonprofit , the United Health Foundation, the healthiest state  - for the second year in a row - is Vermont.

The unhealthiest?  Mississippi and Louisiana.

The report also contains some important health data.   The good news is that Americans are dying less from cancer.   Heart-related deaths are also on the decline.  The bad news is that we are, as a whole, bigger.  27.8% of all Americans are obese.   26.2% lead sedentary lifestyles.

So, where does Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey rank on this list?

Congratulations to a healthier New Jersey.  the Garden State has moved up the ranks to #8. In 2011, they were ranked as #17.

Pennsylvania and Delaware are ranked 26th and 31st respectively.

The rankings are based on a telephone interview.  data collected focused on: smoking, binge drinking, obesity, high school graduation rates, sedentary lifestyle, children in poverty, infectious disease cases, air pollution, violent crime, health insurance, immunizations, primary care doctors, hospitalizations, and rate of conditions and deaths, such as cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Huffingtonpost.com has the full article and complete list.