Tennessee’s latest national health ranking offers a decidedly mixed portrait. In one important area, at least, the state is the best in the United States. In other equally important categories, though, it doesn’t fare nearly as well. The overall result is predictable. While the state improved marginally in the relative health of its residents, it still trails much of nation in many categories.
The current edition of “America’s Health Rankings,” published yearly by the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partners for Prevention, rates the states on a variety of behavioral, environmental and medical measures. In 2010, Tennessee was ranked 42nd, an improvement of two places over 2009. By comparison, Georgia ranked 36th this year, up seven spots. Alabama ranked 45th and Mississippi 50th.
Tennessee’s overall improvement is related to its first-place ranking among the states for its nearly 95 percent vaccination rate for children aged 19 to 35 months. That’s a significant accomplishment. High vaccination rates provide both short- and long-term benefits. They help prevent youngsters from getting potentially serious and deadly diseases. And kids who avoid those illnesses tend to be healthier adolescents and adults, suggesting that Tennessee’s health rankings should continue to improve in coming years.
A successful vaccination program is not the only plus in determining the state’s latest health ranking. The survey also identified other factors that contributed to healthier lifestyles and outcomes for Tennessee residents. A decline in smoking rates, a growing availability of primary care physicians and a low rate of binge-drinking contributed to overall improvements in the health of Tennesseans, as well.
Those pluses, however, must be measured against the negatives outlined in the report. The obesity rate in the state continues to rise. That means a likely increase in the number of state residents with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and other ailments and conditions associated with being overweight. Those chronic conditions often diminish quality of life and carry huge financial costs over an extended period of time.