We're number 49, we're number 49, we're number 49

[Townsend]

We're ranked 49th healthiest state per Forbes.com.

F yes, let's build more fast food places and for God's sake smoke up Johnny.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/16/unhealthy-healthy-states-lifestyle-health-states-top_chart.html?partner=yahoohealth

[Conan71]

We're ranked 49th healthiest state per Forbes.com.

F yes, let's build more fast food places and for God's sake smoke up Johnny.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/16/unhealthy-healthy-states-lifestyle-health-states-top_chart.html?partner=yahoohealth

Makes me even happier to have Panda Express moving to our 'hood.  Come on, let's get to #50!

[sgrizzle]

We do rank low on binge drinking!

[Red Arrow]

We do rank low on binge drinking!

How?  By drinking continuously?  (Binge implies an occasional stop.)

[custosnox]

don't think of it as 49th healthiest.  Think of it more as 2nd most self indulgent.

[Conan71]

don't think of it as 49th healthiest.  Think of it more as 2nd most self indulgent.

Now there's some glass-half-full logic!

[TheArtist]

Whats interesting is how on many different maps, county maps etc. where they color in the countries "highest rates of obesity" diabetes, smoking, etc. (yes we rank high in all)... how the different "colors" stop at the borders of so many states.

For instance, with the diabetes map Oklahomas counties are mostly a dark color indicating high rates there, then you look north and south and there is a dramatic change with hardly any counties dark. Same with a lot of other states.  It cant be that demographics change that much right across a state border in so many instances. To me it seems there must be a play of both demographics and POLICY at work. Otherwise there would be more spillover and not straight lines boxing in the states.  And yes, one must admit by looking at the maps that demographics do play a role in policy. (the poor, appalachian trail route/demographic is very much in play) Policy does seem to have an effect, but could you separate policy from demographics I wonder?  The policies exist because the majority of the people want those policies.  

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/figures/m845a2f.gif


Interesting how those maps also closely match the presidential (red blue) election map for counties, and the level of education.

http://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/jparman/edu-map.jpg

Perhaps only the smart conservative counties (per our one posters assertions) are the, "smartest" but least educated, poorest, highest obesity rates, diabetes, smoking, etc. counties?

Also

Smokiest Metro Areas % Who Are Current Smokers

Wichita Falls, TX 30.9
Hagerstown, MD/Martinsburg, WV 28.9
Huntington, WV/Ashland, KY 27.9
Louisville, KY 27.5
Winston-Salem, NC 25.3
Charleston, WV 24.9
Youngstown/Warren, OH 24.4
Fayetteville, NC 23.8
Hickory/ Morganton/Lenoir, NC 23.8
Tulsa, OK 23.8



Most Smoke-free Metro Areas % Who Are Not Current Smokers

Provo/Orem, UT 95.1
Ogden/Clearfield, UT 91.6
San Jose/Sunnyvale, CA 91.6
Bethesda/Frederick, MD 90.9
Bridgeport/Stamford/Norwalk, CT 89.5
Salt Lake City, UT 89
San Francisco/San Mateo, CA 88.8
Santa Ana/Anaheim/Irvine, CA 88.7
Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FL 88.4
Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA 88.3

Source: CDC

[Conan71]

I guess I can't resist taking a moment to draw the conclusion again that the United States doesn't have one of the worst health care systems in the world, it's got the worst patients in the world who don't take good care of themselves.

[RecycleMichael]

I guess I can't resist taking a moment to draw the conclusion again that the United States doesn't have one of the worst health care systems in the world, it's got the worst patients in the world who don't take good care of themselves.

I am their King!

[Red Arrow]

I am their King!

Hail the King.  I hope you beat the statistics.

[Conan71]

I love this one!