Health

By Adriana Diaz

It’s all downhill from here.

Colorado is tops in a study from Lighthouse Dental Centre that ranks all 50 states on overall health and well-being using several data points from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The research, conducted over the summer, considers air quality, obesity rates, physical activity, health conditions, sleeping patterns, smoking and drinking habits, food consumption and even the number of adults who have all their teeth intact.

The Rocky Mountain State reported low levels of air pollution, disease prevalence and obesity, which helped its ranking, while West Virginia — the least healthy state — recorded worrying rates of air pollution, obesity, physical inactivity, poor sleep, smoking, binge drinking and tooth loss.

West Virginia was also recently named the unhappiest state in the US because of its troublesome rate of adult depression, poor emotional and physical well-being, lackluster work environment and inadequate sleep, according to WalletHub.

Top 10 most healthy states in the US

1. Colorado
2. Hawaii
3. Vermont
4. New Hampshire
5. Utah
6. Massachusetts
7. Connecticut
8. Minnesota
9. Washington
10. California

Top 10 least healthy states in the US

1. West Virginia
2. Kentucky
3. Louisiana
4. Alabama
5. Mississippi
6. Arkansas
7. Oklahoma
8. Tennessee
9. Missouri
10. Ohio

New York ranked No. 23 in the Lighthouse study because of its higher obesity rates, poor physical activity, smoking prevalence and abundance of chronic diseases.

The study comes as two-thirds of Americans 65 and older wish they’d taken their health more seriously when they were younger, according to research conducted by OnePoll for ClearMatch Medicare.

“Many seniors have expressed regrets about not prioritizing their health in their younger years. However, the data unequivocally demonstrates that it’s never too late to start,” said Ben Pajak, CEO of ClearMatch Medicare, a part of HealthPlanOne.

“Everyone should consider setting fitness goals to maintain their optimal health, and it’s worth noting that the majority of Medicare Advantage plans currently provide fitness benefits to support older Americans in their self-care efforts and active lifestyles.”