(KCPW News) Utah residents continue to be some of the healthiest people in the country. The latest United Health Foundation report ranks the state 7th in the nation based on the overall health of the population. Utah Department of Health Executive Director Dr. David Patton says several factors played into the state’s high ranking.
“The one that we are probably most proud about, smoking, as percent of the adult population we were number one in the county,” Patton says. ” We have about nine percent of our population that still persists in smoking despite all the evidence and all the reasons not to. But, that is one that we are very happy about in terms of one that causes a lot of very serious diseases.”
Despite the state’s high standing, Patton says there is still work to be done. Utah ranked 45th in the number of primary care physicians available, and the state’s obesity rate continues to grow.
“We’re very highly ranked, number two in the country in obesity yet our obesity rate continues to climb, but it reflects a national trend where obesity overall is increasing, says Patton. “Utah is also increasing but we’re not at the same rate as other states.”
Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut were named the top three healthiest states.
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