Map Reveals America’s Healthiest—and Least Healthy—States as RFK Jr. Releases New Food Guidelines

A fascinating new report is lifting the lid on the healthiest—and unhealthiest—states across the U.S., revealing a stark analysis of the country's "portrait of health" and the areas where wellbeing appears to be on the back burner.

Released by the United Health Foundation as part of its annual report on the state of the nation's health, the data includes a map that highlights the regions receiving glowing reviews and the areas that scored the lowest across five categories of analysis.

Each of the country's states is ranked in a list of best to worst for healthy living using five key metrics: social and economic factors, physical environment, behaviors, clinical care, and health outcomes. Washington, DC, was not included, however.

Broadly speaking, the picture is a positive one, with the report indicating that the country has seen a decline in premature deaths and drug deaths, an increase in cancer screenings, and a boost in the number of health care providers.

"This year’s report reveals encouraging progress in national mortality rates and cancer screenings. These gains were tempered by continued increases in multiple chronic conditions and socioeconomic challenges," United Health Foundation notes.

What is America's healthiest state?

New Hampshire was ranked as the No. 1 state for the fourth consecutive year. Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and Utah round out the top five healthiest states.

The Granite State ranked at the top for social and economic factors, second for behaviors, third for clinical care, second for health outcomes, and ninth for physical environment.

The report cited that New Hampshire has a low prevalence of nonmedical drug use, a high rate of high school graduation, and a low percentage of adults using e-cigarettes.

Not all was rosy, though. The findings reveal a high prevalence of excessive drinking, high Black/white residential segregation, and low public health care funding per capita in New Hampshire.

"We see progress across the nation, including improvements in mortality, stabilizing trends in measures of behavioral health, and progress in several measures of clinical care," Dr. Margaret-Mary Wilson with United Health Foundation said in the report.

"These are encouraging findings. As a physician, I know good quality clinical care and prevention are the cornerstones of healthy outcomes."

The least healthy states

Louisiana ranked as the least healthy state in the U.S. It's come in last for four years straight.

The state ranked in the bottom five in social and economic factors (No. 50), physical environment (No. 48), behaviors (No. 50), and health outcomes (No. 50). Louisiana ranked 38th in clinical care.

The Pelican State has its strengths, though. It found a high reading proficiency among fourth-grade public school students, a high prevalence of adults with a dedicated health care provider, and a high rate of cancer screenings.

Some of the state's challenges include a high economic index score, a high homicide rate, and a high incidence of chlamydia, according to the report.

Arkansas (No. 49), Mississippi (No. 48), Alabama (No. 47), and West Virginia (No. 46) round out the five least healthy states.

"The report also reveals areas for improvement within the social and economic domains that shape health. The data also show the distinct challenges faced by different communities, including rural America, that must be addressed through tailored intervention," Wilson said.

New food guidelines

Meanwhile, when it comes to what Americans eat, the food pyramid received a reset this week. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of Health and Human Services, unveiled new food guidelines in what is being described as the "most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in our nation’s history."

The message: Eat real food.

The new food guidelines prioritize diets built on whole, nutrient-dense foods: protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats (like avocado), and whole grains. The guidelines were paired with a significant reduction in highly processed foods filled with refined carbohydrates, added sugars, excess sodium, unhealthy fats, and chemical additives.

Grains, which used to be the foundation of a healthy diet, is now the smallest group. Proteins, dairy, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables make up the largest categories at the top.

The approach toward fats used to suggest avoiding or consuming a minimum amount of full-fat dairy or all types of fat. Now, three servings of full-fat dairy with no added sugars is recommended as part of a 2,000-calorie diet.

Recommendations on alcohol consumption were also adjusted. Gone is the suggested number of drinks considered acceptable, which was up to one for women and two for men. Now, it says to consume less alcohol for overall better health.

Kennedy said the new guidelines call on "every American to eat more real food."