A newly released 50-state health ranking reveals striking state-by-state disparities in how Americans live, move, eat, and access care. The analysis places the high-ranking resilience of Hawaii, Colorado, and Vermont at the top, while states with pressing challenges, such as Oklahoma, West Virginia and Mississippi, fall to the bottom.
For this study, health experts analyzed nine key indicators that offer a broad view of how well-being is supported—or challenged—across the United States. The ranking takes into account both risk factors, such as obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, mental distress, and air pollution, as well as protective factors including physical activity, a balanced diet, health insurance coverage, and access to wellness infrastructure.
Together, these metrics paint a nuanced picture of each state’s overall health environment, from daily habits and access to care to the impact of clean air and community wellness resources. With fresh data on obesity, mental distress, insurance coverage, activity levels, dietary gaps, and wellness infrastructure, this report offers rich narrative hooks.
Key findings
- Hawaii leads the nation as the healthiest state of America with clean air, low pollution, the lowest obesity and mental distress rates, 97% insurance coverage, and a high density of wellness infrastructure. These advantages contribute to better health outcomes overall, including fewer chronic conditions, improved mental well-being, and stronger population-level resilience.
- Colorado (ranks 5th in U.S. Health ranking) combines the highest physical activity levels with the lowest obesity rate in the continental U.S.—35% of adults exercise regularly. This combination is linked to lower rates of chronic illness, stronger cardiovascular health, and improved mental well-being across the population.
- West Virginia ranks lowest in physical activity and highest in obesity. WV ranks 50th in the U.S. Health ranking.
- Utah (ranks 3rd in the U.S. Health ranking) stands out for having the lowest alcohol and tobacco use rates in the country—an advantage that contributes to lower rates of cancer, liver disease, and respiratory illness, as well as improved long-term public health outcomes.
- Fewer than 5% of adults meet expected dietary goals in Mississippi (49th), Oklahoma (48th), Idaho (16th), Alabama (46th), Missouri (44th), and West Virginia (50th)—a troubling gap given that regular fruit and vegetable intake is associated with stronger immune function, lower risk of chronic disease, and healthier weight management.
- Texas (38th) has the lowest percentage of insured residents at 84%, compared to 97% in top-performing states like Massachusetts (6th), Vermont (2nd), and Hawaii (1st). Lower coverage rates are often linked to delayed diagnoses, reduced access to preventive care, and overall poorer health outcomes.
- California leads in total wellness infrastructure with 5,400+ facilities, including spas, yoga centers, and hydration therapy bars—resources that support stress reduction, faster recovery, and preventive care, ultimately promoting healthier and more resilient communities. CA ranks 10th in the U.S. Health ranking.
- Arkansas, Ohio, Mississippi, and Georgia have significantly higher pollution levels, which can increase the risks of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
Top 10 States Data Set
Insurance Matters: Defining Health Outcomes in America
Health insurance is important to long-term well-being, improving access to care, reducing financial stress, and ensuring timely treatment. Across America, around 93% of adults are insured, but the coverage is not evenly distributed.
For example, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Vermont have around 97% of their citizens insured, Texas has close to 84%, and Nevada, Florida, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Georgia have around 89% of their residents insured.
Lower insurance rates will most often correlate with poor health outcomes, higher rates of untreated illness, and an increased strain on emergency services.
Impact of Diet and Physical Activity
The obesity epidemic is still one of the most urgent public health crises across America. Obesity is largely driven by poor lifestyle choices such as an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Obesity significantly increases the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and even premature death.
This study reveals that only 8% of adults are meeting the recommendations for eating fruits and vegetables, and less than 1 in 3 are meeting the guidelines for physical activity.
The state of West Virginia was found to have the highest obesity rate (41%) and lowest levels of physical activity (1 in 5), while Colorado boasts the measurable power of healthy habits, with the lowest rate of obesity (25%) and over 35% of adults meeting the guidelines for physical activity.
Ongoing Struggle with Bad Habits
While the smoking rates in America have significantly dropped from 40% in the 1960s to 14% in 2025, a good portion of people still smoke. Tennessee, West Virginia, and Arkansas are among the leading states for smoking, while Utah, California, and Maryland have fewer than 1 in 10 adults who still smoke.
Alcohol, while being readily available and culturally normalized, continues to pose a serious health risk in America. Residents in Delaware and New Hampshire appear to drink the most, averaging over 4 gallons a year, while those in Utah drink the least, reflecting both cultural and policy influences that limit the consumption of alcohol.
A Healthy Nation Is A Prosperous Nation
According to the Commonwealth Fund, America has a failing health system. Despite the higher-than-global-average spending on healthcare and the higher costs of healthcare services, America ranks last among other wealthy peer nations in health outcomes. Findings are in line with other studies, finding that America has the shortest lifespan and the most avoidable deaths; meaning in essence that this nation is underperforming when it comes to healthcare and paying more for the worst outcomes.
Public health influences not only individual lives but also the strength of our communities, workforce productivity, and national resilience. As public health challenges continue to rise, promoting both physical and mental well-being has never been more urgent.
The numbers from this study reveal differences in how health is both supported and experienced across the nation. No single state is without areas needing improvement, with some having strong access to wellness resources, high levels of physical activity, and low levels of mental health challenges. However, some states face ongoing challenges with obesity rates and health insurance coverage.
The data from this study reveals that further investment into health-promoting infrastructure paired with addressing risk factors can yield meaningful results, as demonstrated by states performing well across Health Risk Factors and Health Promotion Factors tend to have healthier populations and more resilient communities.
The study draws on the most recent publicly available data from trusted sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), American Lung Association, United Health Foundation, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to reveal the stark differences from state to state.
This article was written by TJ Webber at the WHN News Desk in collaboration with Drip Hydration, a leading wellness provider bringing cutting-edge therapies and tailored solutions designed to meet individual needs to support overall wellness.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
