About The Rankings

Health is a result of our behaviors, our individual genetic predisposition to disease, the environment and the community in which we live, the clinical care we receive and the policies and practices of our health care and prevention systems. Each of us, individually, as a community, and as a society, strives to optimize these health determinants, so that all of us can have a long, disease-free and robust life regardless of race, gender or socio-economic status.

Purpose

The ultimate purpose of America’s Health Rankings® is to stimulate action by individuals, elected officials, medical professionals, public health professionals, employers, educators, and communities to improve the health of the population of the United States. We do this by promoting public conversation concerning health in our states, as well as providing information to facilitate citizen, community, and group participation. We encourage participation in all elements: behaviors, community and environment, clinical care, and policy. Each person individually, and in their capacity as an employee, employer, educator, voter, community volunteer, medical professional, public health official or elected official, can contribute to the advancement of the healthiness of their state. Proven, effective, and innovative actions can improve the health of people in every state whether the state is ranked first or 50th.