News Articles

Robert, a veteran living in California, has several health challenges. But his biggest challenge actually may be social isolation.

Obesity is a major health concern in the United States, impacting nearly one in three adults. In the 30 years that America’s Health Rankings has been compiling public health information, the prevalence of obesity climbed by more than 170 percent. In 1990, 11.6 percent of American adults were obese. Today, that percentage has risen to 31.3 percent. In 2018 alone, obesity increased by 5 percent, the largest year-over-year increase since 2014.

The America’s Health Rankings team spoke with Dr. Anna Schenck of the University of North Carolina to learn how she uses the resources and data provided at AmericasHealthRankings.org. Dr. Schenck serves as Professor of the Practice and Director of the Public Health Leadership Program at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. She is also Chair of the America’s Health Rankings Scientific Advisory Committee.

The America’s Health Rankings team spoke with Dr. David Lakey of the University of Texas System to learn how he uses the resources and data provided at AmericasHealthRankings.org. Dr. Lakey serves a dual role as the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at The University of Texas System and as Senior Advisor to the President and Professor of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler.

MINNETONKA, Minn. – The nation’s obesity rate has reached the highest-ever level this year, according to the United Health Foundation’s 2018 America’s Health Rankings® Annual Report. Obesity is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease, cancer and other conditions. Additionally, an increase in drug deaths, suicides and cardiovascular disease deaths is contributing to an increase in premature death.

MINNETONKA, Minn. (May 17, 2018) – A new report benchmarking the health of seniors in America finds poorer health outcomes for rural senior citizens compared with their urban and suburban peers and increased national suicide rates. An analysis within the report also highlights the risk of social isolation and its association with poor health for seniors.

With health care expenditures expected to exceed $3.5 trillion in 2017 and grow by an average of 5.6 percent each year through 2025, health care affordability is a growing concern for individuals and families. America’s Health Rankings and the Alliance for Aging Research explore the issues of financial preparedness for health care costs in retirement in the new brief: Preparing for Health Care Costs in Retirement.

MINNETONKA, Minn. (May 10, 2017) – America’s seniors are seeing improvements in clinical care but are facing significant economic barriers to better health, according to the key findings from United Health Foundation’s fifth annual America’s Health Rankings Senior Report. Accompanying the report is new survey data, released in partnership with the Alliance for Aging Research, highlighting risks of health savings shortfalls among current and future seniors and uncertainty about future health care savings needs.

MINNETONKA, Minn. (Dec. 15, 2016) – The nation’s health is seeing concerning upticks in key health indicators that threaten to offset years of public health successes, according to the key findings in United Health Foundation’s 27th America’s Health Rankings Annual Report®.