Close
Executive SummaryIntroductionExplore the Health of Women, Children and InfantsFindingsThe Health of Women and Children between StatesThe Health of Women and Children within StatesHealthy Communities for ChildrenClinical Preventive Services for ChildrenRacial Disparities in Measures of MortalityVariations in SmokingMeasures of Women's HealthBehaviors | Measures of Women’s HealthCommunity & Environment | Measures of Women’s HealthPolicy | Measures of Women’s HealthClinical Care | Measures of Women’s HealthOutcomes | Measures of Women’s HealthMeasures of Infants' HealthBehaviors | Measures of Infants’ HealthCommunity & Environment | Measures of Infants’ HealthPolicy | Measures of Infants’ HealthClinical Care | Measures of Infants’ HealthOutcomes | Measures of Infants’ HealthMeasures of Children's HealthBehaviors | Measures of Children’s HealthCommunity & Environment | Measures of Children’s HealthPolicy | Measures of Children’s HealthClinical Care | Measures of Children’s HealthOutcomes | Measures of Children’s HealthState Summaries
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
District of Columbia
United StatesAppendixData Sources and Measures of Women’s HealthData Sources and Measures of Infants’ HealthData Sources and Measures of Children’s HealthMethodologyModel DevelopmentAmerica’s Health Rankings® Health of Women and Children Steering GroupThe Team
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingDistrict of ColumbiaUnited StatesAppendixData Sources and Measures of Women’s HealthData Sources and Measures of Infants’ HealthData Sources and Measures of Children’s HealthMethodologyModel DevelopmentAmerica’s Health Rankings® Health of Women and Children Steering GroupThe TeamDrug Dependence or Abuse
Drug and alcohol abuse and dependence by adolescents has a significant impact in terms of economic costs and lives lost. Students who binge drink are more likely to report poor school performance and be involved in other health risk behaviors including smoking, illicit drug use, sexual activity, sexual victimization, and attempting suicide. Adolescent drug users may experience psychosomatic symptoms, poor emotional functioning, impaired relationships, and more trouble with parents and family. While there are a number of risk factors that increase the likelihood of drug and alcohol use, the most consistent factor in reducing usage is social support both from peers and family.
Percentage of children aged 12 to 17 who were dependent on or abused illicit drugs or alcohol in the past year
Data source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2013–2014
High School Graduation
The connection between education and health has been well documented, spans almost all health conditions, and is evidenced by an array of health outcomes. Educational attainment is closely tied to life expectancy, and there are significant differences within individual racial and gender groups when comparing those with less than a high school education and those with further education. Individuals with more education are less likely to smoke, drink heavily, or be overweight or obese; they are more likely to have a higher earning potential and better employment opportunities, which allows for access to healthier food, health insurance, medical care, and safe neighborhoods.
Percentage of high school students who graduate within four years of starting ninth grade with a regular high school diploma
Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2013–2014 For details: www.americashealthrankings.org/ALL/ HS_Grad_ACGR_MCH
Overweight or Obese
Childhood obesity, like obesity in adults, is tied to increased risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Children and adolescents who are obese are more likely than those with a healthy weight to be overweight in adulthood. While only 5% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 were obese in 1980, 21% were obese in 2011–2012 and 35% were identified as either overweight or obese. Childhood obesity is responsible for an estimated $14 billion in lifetime direct medical costs, or $19,000 per obese child. The two most important means of preventing childhood obesity are healthy eating and physical activity.
Percentage of children aged 10 to 17 who are overweight or obese for their age based upon body mass index
Data source: National Survey of Children’s Health, 2011–2012 For details: www.americashealthrankings.org/ ALL/youth_overweight
Tobacco Use
Preventing tobacco use during adolescence is essential to cutting the overall smoking rate, since 9 in 10 cigarette smokers have their first cigarette by age 18. While cigarette smoking has declined among high schoolers in recent years, this has been coupled by increases in the use of other tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes, which may be as addictive and have their own set of health risks. Long term tobacco use has wellknown and wide-ranging adverse impacts on individual health. Users of all types of tobacco are at greater risk for heart disease, cancer, and stroke, and tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
Percentage of children aged 12 to 17 who used a tobacco product in the past month
Data source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2013–2014 For details: www.americashealthrankings.org/ ALL/youth_tobacco