Resolving to Improve State Health
We all know we aren’t alone in making New Year’s resolutions to be healthier in 2015—we see friends and family making many of the same commitments to eat better and move more. But did you know many state leaders across the country also make resolutions to improve the health of their constituents?
The 2014 Rankings and Reflections on Our Report’s 25th Year
Q: Which state ranks as the healthiest in the nation for 2014? We know this is your first question every year, so we won’t keep you in suspense: Hawaii took the number one spot. Did you know that for the full 25 years we’ve been doing this report—since 1990—Hawaii has always ranked as one of the top six healthiest states in the nation?
What’s Your Perspective on Our Nation’s Health?
As you have likely heard, this December, the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® report will turn 25. This represents an important milestone: a quarter century of dedicated commitment to improved national health.
The Rankings Head to the Big Easy
In less than a month, United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® will be among the topics garnering buzz at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Exposition in New Orleans. While you may think of Mardi Gras beads and Bourbon Street when you hear of New Orleans, for the more than 12,000 public health professionals from all across the US who attend the conference, the city will be for sharing lessons in healthy behaviors.
Moving from Measurement to Meaningful Change
One of the best parts of my work with the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings® team is sharing our data with others. I know the work we do to measure health helps state and community leaders design programs that truly improve the health of their constituencies.
Healthy Words That Inspire Change
When we release America’s Health Rankings® each December, the first question we get is usually, “Where does my state rank?” followed by, “Okay, so which was the healthiest state?” However, if you look at only the ranking numbers, and if you read only your home state’s profile, you’re missing one of the most powerful pieces of the report: the commentaries on America’s health written by some of our country’s leading experts.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Health Leaders
The United Health Foundation believes that innovative solutions often come from those with fresh perspectives. That’s why we’re excited to host the 6th Annual Diverse Scholars Forum in Washington, D.C., this month. Building on the success of past years, this special event brings together more than 100 bright minds, including undergraduate, as well as graduate-level scholarship recipients from across the nation.
Reflections on Men’s Health
I’ve been thinking often about men’s health this month. For one thing, June 15 was Father’s Day, as every other commercial seemed to remind me as the holiday approached. Even though I’ve yet to see a Hallmark card for it, June is also Men’s Health Month. Maybe the underlying message in all the cards and calls we men got on Father’s Day from the women and children in our lives is that we are loved, and they want us to love and take better care of ourselves!
An Update on the State of Senior Health
It’s time to re-think how we approach aging in the U.S. As more and more Baby Boomers pass their 65th birthday, our country is undergoing a tremendous demographic change. In the next 25 years, America’s senior population will double, and as America’s population ages, we know we must be attentive not just to how long we’re living, but also to how well.