WASHINGTON — When it comes to happiness, self-esteem, physical fitness and work satisfaction, Tennessee apparently faces a deficit.

A survey of Americans’ mental, physical and economic health ranked the Volunteer State 42nd out of the 50 states in overall well-being. Georgia fared better in the study, ranking 23rd.

Gallup, along with Healthways and America’s Health Insurance Plans, conducted the survey.

Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Chattanooga and is represented by Republican Rep. Zach Wamp, ranked 337 out of the 435 congressional districts in well-being.

Rep. Wamp, who founded the Congressional Fitness Caucus, said the study shows that Tennesseans need to be more proactive about their health.

“Our approach to health care needs to be more preventive than just figuring out how to pay for people when they get sick,” he said. “Some of this is as simple as being able to sleep, maintaining good hygiene and basic education on how to change your activities so you don’t get sick or end up in poor health.”

Bert Brantley, a spokesman for Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, attributed Georgia’s higher ranking to economic growth in the state, along with the pride boost that came with hosting the Summer Olympics in 1996.

He said Atlanta is among the top draws for young professionals and touted the survey’s finding of the state’s 6th Congressional District in Atlanta’s northern suburbs as ranking first among all congressional districts in emotional and physical health.

“A lot of people in Georgia look at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, our ports, our urban amenities combined with our rural amenities, and they feel like we are positioned to weather the storm and come out strong,” Mr. Brantley said.

The study polled more than 355,000 Americans throughout last year, examining their diets, exercise habits, job satisfaction and sense of financial security, in an attempt to measure the well-being of communities and states.

The highest ranked states were mostly in the West, while the lowest were concentrated in the South. Utah, Hawaii and Wyoming topped the survey in overall well-being, while Mississippi, Kentucky and West Virginia were the bottom three.

Survey officials could not be reached for comment, but researchers told The Associated Press that the happiest congressional districts tended to include some of the wealthiest, while the lowest scores included some of the poorest.

The survey, which will be compiled monthly to track trends, “will assist national, state and community leaders, as well as policymakers and employers, to make smart resource allocation decisions for the health and well-being of millions of people and the financial health of the nation,” AHIP said on the study’s Web site.

Though Tennessee ranked among the bottom 10 states in physical and emotional health, it scored higher in work quality, ranking 19th.

Georgia ranked seventh in life evaluation and 11th in physical health, but it fared poorly in work quality (37th) and access to basic necessities (39th).

The rural 4th District, represented by Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., ranked 370th.

“Access to quality and affordable health care is by far one of the top issues my constituents face,” Rep. Davis said in a statement. “I will be doing my part to ensure that rural areas like the district I serve are getting the attention they deserve in any health care reform package, as I have in the past.”

The 2nd District, which includes Athens, Tenn., and is represented by Rep. John Duncan, R-Tenn., ranked 206th.

In Georgia, the 9th District, which includes Dalton and is represented by Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., ranked 146th.