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Rankings by Measure






As a nation, our excess pounds are creating excess costs. Find out what obesity is costing your state today, and if trends continue, what it may cost in the future.
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Definition of Components
Core Measures
Supplemental Measures

Select a core or supplemental measure to view the result for all states for the 2009 Edition. If you wish to see results from prior editions or to view trend information, use the drop down boxes at left to select the desired measure, the state of interest and the years. A list of all measures, including those from prior years, is here.

Core Measures
Determinants Description
Behavior
Prevalence of Smoking Percentage of population over age 18 that smokes on a regular basis. This is an indication of known, addictive, health-adverse behaviors within the population. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Prevalence of Smoking.aspx)
Prevalence of Binge Drinking Percentage of population over age 18 that has drunken excessively in the last 30 days. Binge drinking is defined as 5 drinks for a male and 4 for a female in one setting. It is a proxy indicator for excessive drug and alcohol use within a population. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Prevalence of Binge Drinking.aspx)
Prevalence of Obesity Percentage of the population estimated to be obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher. Obesity is known to contribute to a variety of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and general poor health. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Prevalence of Obesity.aspx)
High School Graduation Percentage of incoming ninth graders who graduate in four years from a high school with a regular degree, as reported by NCES in compliance with the No Child Left Behind initiative. It is an indication of the individual`s ability to learn about, create and maintain a healthy lifestyle and to understand and access health care when required. (http://www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/High School Graduation.aspx)
Community and Environment
Violent Crime The number of murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 population. It reflects an aspect of overall lifestyle within a state and its associated health risks. (http://www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Violent Crime.aspx)
Occupational Fatalities Number of fatalities from occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. This measure reflects job safety as a part of public health. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/WorkFatalities.aspx)
Infectious Disease Number of AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis (A and B) cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention per 100,000 population. This is an indication of the toll that infectious disease is placing on the population. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Infectious Disease.aspx)
Children in Poverty The percentage of persons under age 18 who live in households at or below the poverty threshold. Poverty is an indication of the lack of access to health care by this vulnerable population. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Children in Poverty.aspx)
Air Pollution The average exposure of the general public to particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in size (PM2.5). Health studies have shown a significant association between exposure to fine particles and premature death from heart or lung disease. Fine particles can aggravate heart and lung diseases and have been linked to effects such as: cardiovascular symptoms; cardiac arrhythmias; heart attacks; respiratory symptoms; asthma attacks; and bronchitis. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Air Pollution.aspx)
Public and Health Policies
Lack of Health Insurance Percentage of the population that does not have health insurance privately, through their employer or the government. This is an indicator of the ability to access care as needed, especially preventive care. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Lack of Health Insurance.aspx)
Public Health Funding State funding dedicated to public health as well as federal funding directed to states by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration, expressed on a per capita basis. This represents the annual investment being made in public health programs to monitor and improve population health. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Public Health Funding.aspx)
Immunization Coverage Percentage of children ages 19 to 35 months who have received four or more doses of DTP, three or more doses of poliovirus vaccine, one or more doses of any measles-containing vaccine, three or more doses of HiB, and three or more doses of HepB vaccine. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Immunization Coverage.aspx)
Clinical Care
Prenatal Care Percentage of pregnant women receiving adequate prenatal care, as defined by Kotelchuck`s Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization (APNCU) Index. This measures how well women are receiving the care they require for a healthy pregnancy and development of the fetus. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Prenatal Care.aspx)
Primary Care Physicians Number of primary care physicians (including general practice, family practice, OB-GYN, pediatrics and internal medicine) per 100,000 population. This measure reflects the availability of physicians to assist the population with preventive and regular care. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Primary Care Physicians.aspx)
Preventable Hospitalizations Discharge rate among the Medicare population for diagnoses that are amenable to non-hospital based care. This reflects how well a population uses the various delivery sites for necessary care. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Preventable Hospitalizations.aspx)
Outcomes Description
Poor Mental Health Days Number of days in the previous 30 days when a person indicates their activities are limited due to mental health difficulties. This is a general indication of the population`s ability to function on a day-to-day basis. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Poor Mental Health Days.aspx)
Poor Physical Health Days Number of days in the previous 30 days when a person indicates their activities are limited due to physical health difficulties. This is a general indication of the population`s ability to function on a day-to-day basis. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Poor Physical Health Days.aspx)
Geographic Disparity The variation among the overall mortality rates among the counties within a state. Equality among counties would be expressed by low variation. This measure indicates how equal the outcomes are across a state. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Geographic Disparity.aspx)
Infant Mortality Number of infant deaths (before age 1) per 1,000 live births. This is an indication of the prenatal care, access and birth process for both child and mother. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Infant Mortality.aspx)
Cardiovascular Deaths Number of deaths due to all cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and strokes, per 100,000 population. This is an indication of the toll that these types of diseases place on the population. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Cardiovascular Deaths.aspx)
Cancer Deaths Number of deaths due to all causes of cancer per 100,000 population. This is an indication of the toll cancer places on the population. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Cancer Deaths.aspx)
Premature Death Number of years of potential life lost prior to age 75 per 100,000 population. This is an indication of the number of useful years of life that are not available to a population due to early death. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Premature Death.aspx)
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Supplemental Measures
Behaviors Description
Cholesterol Check Percentage of adults who have had their blood cholesterol checked within the last five years. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Cholesterol Check.aspx)
Dental Visit Percentage of adults who have visited the dentist or dental clinic within the past year for any reason. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Recent Dental Visit.aspx)
Physical Activity Percentage of adults who, during the past month, participated in any physical activities. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Physical Activity.aspx)
Diet Percentage of adults who consume five or more servings of vegetables and fruit a day. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Daily Vegetables and Fruit.aspx)
Teen Birth Rate The number of births per 1,000 mothers age 15 to 19. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Teen Birth Rate.aspx)
Chronic Disease Description
Cardiac Heart Disease Percentage of adults who have been told by a health professional that they had angina or coronary heart disease. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Cardiac Heart Disease.aspx)
Diabetes Percentage of adults who have been told by a health professional that they had diabetes (does not include pre-diabetes or diabetes during pregnancy). (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Diabetes.aspx)
High Cholesterol Percentage of adults who have had their cholesterol checked and been told that it was high. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/High Cholesterol.aspx)
Heart Attack Percentage of adults who have been told by a health professional that they had a heart attack (myocardial infarction). (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Heart Attack.aspx)
Stroke Percentage of adults who have been told by a health professional that they had a stroke. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Stroke.aspx)
Hypertension Percentage of adults who have been told by a health professional that they had high blood pressure. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/High Blood Pressure.aspx)
Economic Description
Personal Income Per capita personal income in current dollars. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Per Capita Personal Income.aspx)
Unemployment Rate Total unemployed as a percent of the civilian labor force (U-3 definition). This is the usual number cited by officials and in the media. The annual unemployment rate is at www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Annual Unemployment Rate.aspx; the August 2009 unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, is at www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/August Unemployment Rate.aspx
Underemployment Rate Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers (U-6 Definition). This more comprehensive definition accounts for individuals that are not fully employed, are involuntarily working part time or have stopped looking for employment. (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Underemployment Rate.aspx)
Income Disparity (Gini coefficient) A common measure of income inequality that varies between 0, which reflects complete equality of income and 1, which indicates complete inequality (one person has all the income or consumption, all others have none). (www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Income Disparity.aspx)
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All Measures

Air Pollution The average exposure of the general public to particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in size (PM2.5). Health studies have shown a significant association between exposure to fine particles and premature death from heart or lung disease. Fine particles can aggravate heart and lung diseases and have been linked to effects such as: cardiovascular symptoms; cardiac arrhythmias; heart attacks; respiratory symptoms; asthma attacks; and bronchitis.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Air Pollution
All Determinants Weighted sum of the number of standard deviations each determinant is from the national average.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/All Determinants
All Outcomes Weighted sum of the number of standard deviations each outcome is from the national average.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/All Outcomes
Annual Unemployment Rate Annual unemployment rate: total unemployed as a percent of the civilian labor force (U-3 definition)
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Annual Unemployment Rate
August Unemployment Rate Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August 2009
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/August Unemployment Rate
Cancer Deaths Number of deaths due to all causes of cancer per 100,000 population. This is an indication of the toll cancer places on the population.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Cancer Deaths
Cardiac Heart Disease Percent of adults who responded yes to the question "Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have angina or coronary heart disease?"
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Cardiac Heart Disease
Cardiovascular Deaths Number of deaths due to all cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and strokes, per 100,000 population. This is an indication of the toll that these types of diseases place on the population.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Cardiovascular Deaths
Children in Poverty The percentage of persons under age 18 who live in households at or below the poverty threshold. Poverty is an indicator of the lack of access to health care by this vulnerable population.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Children in Poverty
Cholesterol Check Percent of adults who reported that they had their blood cholesterol checked within the last five years.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Cholesterol Check
Daily Vegetables and Fruit Percent of adults who reported that they consumed fruits and vegetables five or more times per day.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Daily Vegetables and Fruit
Diabetes Percent of adults who responded yes to the question "Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes?"
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Diabetes
Geographic Disparity The variation among the overall mortality rates among the counties within a state. Equality among counties would be expressed by low variation. This measure indicates how equal the outcomes are across a state.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Geographic Disparity
Health Status Percent of adults who indicate that their current health is fair or poor.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Health Status
Heart Attack Percent of adults who responded yes to the question "Ever been told you had a heart attack (myocardial infarction)?"
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Heart Attack

High Blood Pressure Adults who have been told they have high blood pressure by a healthcare professional.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol Adults who reported that they have had their blood cholesterol checked and have been told it was high.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/High Cholesterol
High School Graduation Rate Percentage of incoming ninth graders who graduate within four years from a high school with a regular degree. It is an indication of the individual’s ability to learn about, create and maintain a healthy lifestyle and to understand and access health care when required.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/High School Graduation
Immunization Coverage Percentage of children ages 19 to 35 months who have received four or more doses of DTP, three or more doses of poliovirus vaccine, one or more doses of any measles-containing vaccine, three or more doses of HiB, and three or more doses of HepB vaccine.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Immunization Coverage
Income Disparity Measure of the distribution of income. 0 is perfectly distributed, 1 is perfectly skewed to the wealthiest individual.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Income Disparity
Infant Mortality Number of infant deaths (before age 1) per 1,000 live births. This is an indication of the prenatal care, access and birth process for both child and mother.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Infant Mortality
Infectious Disease Three year average of the number of AIDS, tuberculosis and Hepatitis (A and B) cases reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention per 100,000 population. This is an indication of the toll that infectious disease is placing on the population.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Infectious Disease
Lack of Health Insurance Percentage of the population that does not have health insurance privately, through their employer or the government. This is an indicator of the ability to access care as needed, especially preventive care.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Lack of Health Insurance

Median Household Income Median household income is the income at which one-half of the households make more and one-half of the households make less. Expressed in 2008 dollars.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Median Household Income
Motor Vehicle Deaths Numbers of deaths per 100,000 miles driven in a state. It is a proxy for excessive drug and alcohol use within a population.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Motor Vehicle Deaths
Occupational Fatalities Three year average of the number of fatalities from occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. This measures reflects job safety as a part of public health.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Occupational Fatalities
Overall Weighted sum of the number of standard deviations each measure is from the national average.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Overall
Per Capita Personal Income Per capita personal income (in current dollars)
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Per Capita Personal Income

Physical Activity Percent of adults who indicated that they participated in physical activities during the past month.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Physical Activity
Poor Mental Health Days Number of days in the previous 30 days when a person indicates their activities are limited due to mental health difficulties. This is a general indication of the population’s ability to function on a day-to-day basis.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Poor Mental Health Days
Poor Physical Health Days Number of days in the previous 30 days when a person indicates their activities are limited due to physical health difficulties. This is a general indication of the population’s ability to function on a day-to-day basis.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Poor Physical Health Days
Premature Death Number of years of potential life lost prior to age 75 per 100,000 population. This is an indication of the number of useful years of life that are not available to a population due to early death.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Premature Death
Prenatal Care Percentage of pregnant women receiving adequate prenatal care, as defined by Kessner Index. This measures how well women are receiving the care they require for a healthy pregnancy and development of the fetus.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Prenatal Care
Prevalence of Binge Drinking Percentage of population over age 18 that has drunken excessively in the last 30 days. Binge drinking is defined as 5 drinks for a male and 4 for a female in one setting. It is a proxy indicator for excessive drug and alcohol use within a population.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Prevalence of Binge Drinking
Prevalence of Obesity Percentage of the population estimated to be obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher. Obesity is known to contribute to a variety of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and general poor health.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Prevalence of Obesity
Prevalence of Smoking Percentage of population over age 18 that smokes on a regular basis. This is an indication of known, addictive, health-adverse behaviors within the population.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Prevalence of Smoking
Preventable Hospitalizations Discharge rate among the Medicare population for diagnoses that are amenable to non-hospital based care. This reflects how well a population uses the various delivery sites for necessary care.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Preventable Hospitalizations
Primary Care Physicians Number of primary care physicians (including general practice, family practice, OB-GYN, pediatrics and internal medicine) per 100,000 population. This measure reflects the availability of physicians to assist the population with preventive and regular care.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Primary Care Physicians
Public Health Funding Estimate of dollars spent per person on public health.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Public Health Funding
Recent Dental Visit Percent of adults who responded they had visited the dentist or dental clinic within the past year for any reason.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Recent Dental Visit

Stroke Percent of the adult population that have been told by a healthcare professional that they have had a stroke.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Stroke

Teen Birth Rate The number of births per 1,000 women age 15 to 19.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Teen Birth Rate

Underemployment Rate A broad measure of unemployment that accounts for those that have stopped seeking employment or are marginally employed (total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers.)
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Underemployment Rate
Violent Crime The number of murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 population. It reflects an aspect of overall lifestyle within a state and its associated health risks.
www.americashealthrankings.org/measure/2009/List All/Violent Crime

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