America's Health Rankings^® is a composite index of over 20 different metrics that give a annual snapshot of health of a population in each state relative to the other states.

The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In addition to the contributions of our individual genetic predispositions to disease, health is the result of

• Our behaviors.
• The environment and the community in which we live.
• The public and health policies and practices of our health care and prevention systems.
• The clinical care we receive.

These four aspects interact with each other in a complex web of cause and effect to create the healthy outcomes we desire, including a long, disease-free, robust life for all individuals regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status.