America's Health Rankings 2011: Which state scored worst?

How's America's health? It depends on the state. For its 2011 America's Health Rankings, the United Health Foundation looks at health-related factors across the U.S., such as smoking, obesity and hospitalization rates to see which states are healthiest and which fall short.

Overall, the report isn't stellar. The rankings show a "dramatic" increase in obesity across the country, so much so that every person who quit smoking in 2011 was offset by a person who became obese.

20. Delaware

Kicking off the list of unhealthiest states is Delaware, which tied for 20th. Delaware's biggest problems proved to be binge drinking, lots of crime, and infrequent use of early prenatal care. But the state is strong when it comes to health insurance and has a low rate of preventable hospitalizations.

Score: -0.032

20. Michigan

Michigan's biggest red flags were high rates of obesity and crime, and low public health funding. But the state scored well on immunization coverage, use of prenatal care, and low on-the-job fatalities.

Score: -0.032

19. North Carolina

How's North Carolina's health? Ask the kids. The state has a high percentage of children living in poverty - it increased from 18.3 percent to 27.6 percent in the past five years. North Carolina also has a high infant mortality rate and low public health funding. On the bright side, the state has high immunization coverage and a low incidence of infectious disease.

Score: -0.068

18. Florida

The Sunshine State doesn't have much air pollution, but it struggles with low high school graduation rates and has lots of uninsured residents.

Score: -0.119

17. New Mexico

Residents of New Mexico breathe clean air and many stay clear of binge drinking. The state also has low death rates from heart problems and cancer. But the Land of Enchantment is not so enchanting for children - a high percentage live in poverty. Most residents also lack health insurance.

Score: -0.141

16. Alaska

Nearly one in four Alaskan adults is obese, and the state has high rates of binge drinking, violent crime, and infectious disease. But Alaskans can breathe easily - the state has low levels of air pollution.

Score: -0.168

15. Ohio

What health crime are Ohio residents committing? Smoking - 22.5 percent of the adult population smokes. The state also has high levels of air pollution and low levels of public health spending. But Ohioans are more likely to have graduated from high school than many other states, and rates of on-the-job fatalities are low.

Score: -0.233

14. Georgia

Georgians may have health insurance and air pollution on their mind, both of which are challenges to the state's health. Georgia also has a low high school graduation rate. But few Georgians are bing drinkers, and the state fares well when it comes to use of early prenatal care.

Score: -0.275

13. Indiana

Indiana has lots of children living in poverty and air pollution. The Hoosier State also falls short on public health funding. But Indiana is healthy when it comes to binge drinking rates and most citizens have access to health care.

Score: -0.290

12. Tennessee

Tennessee's biggest shortcomings are its high rates of obesity, diabetes, and violent crime. Good thing there are many primary care doctors in Tennessee who can help treat residents.

Score: -0.314

11. Missouri

Missouri residents graduate high school in high rates and turn to prenatal care when expecting, which boosts the state's health score. But the state falls short with its high rates of smoking, infectious disease, and preventable hospitalizations.

Score: -0.342

10. West Virginia

Home to the city once named America's fattest, West Virginia struggles with high obesity rates. Diabetes, smoking, and preventable hospitalizations are also a problem. Many West Virginians also take off more mental and physical sick days per month. Luckily, the state has high per capita health funding, and doesn't struggle with binge drinking or infectious disease.

Score: -0.413

9. Nevada

Nevada residents are less obese than other states' citizens, and the state has low rates of infectious disease and preventable hospitalizations. But Nevada has unhealthy rates of high school graduation, immunization coverage, and violent crime.

Score: -0.471

8. Kentucky

What are Kentucky's health problems? High rates of Smoking, obesity, cancer deaths and preventable hospitalizations. The Bluegrass State has low rates of binge drinking and violent crime.

Score: -0.478

7. Texas

Is everyone bigger in Texas? Obesity in the Lone Star State jumped from 23.1 percent to 31.7 percent of adults in the past ten years. That's not the state's only health problem. Too many Texans are uninsured, and not enough use early prenatal care. But Texans do well when it comes to smoking, and the state also has a low rate of cancer deaths.

Score: -0.508

6. South Carolina

Health advocates can reward South Carolina for its low rates of binge drinking, but red flags arise for high rates of obesity, diabetes, and children living in poverty. In the past year, the percentage of children living in poverty increased from 17.6 percent to 25.7 percent.

Score: -0.521

5. Alabama

Smoking, obesity, and diabetes are all big problems in Alabama. But residents who need care can smile because the state has high per capita public health funding and immunization coverage.

Score: -0.607

4. Arkansas

Arkansas has a number of big health challenges, including smoking, infectious disease, and deaths from cancer and heart disease. Does the state have any health strengths? Low levels of binge drinking and equal access to health care.

Score: -0.622

3. Oklahoma

Oklahoma's under fire for high rates of smoking and obesity - and a limited availability of primary care physicians. But the state gets kudos for its high per capita public health funding and a low infectious disease rate.

Score: -0.669

2. Louisiana

Louisiana's biggest health problems are its low high school graduation rates and high percentages of children in poverty, smokers, and preventable hospitalizations. These unhealthy behaviors push the state near the bottom of the list. At least Louisiana has moderate per capita public health funding.

Score: -0.817

1. Mississippi

Which state scored the unhealthiest of them all? Mississippi. The state struggles most with obesity, children in poverty, preventable hospitalizations, and infant mortality.

Score: -0.822