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11:43 AM CST Monday

Minnesota the healthiest state in the nation, again
Scott D. Smith
Staff reporter
Minnesota ranked as the healthiest state in the nation Monday, according to America's Health: State Health Rankings.

Since 1990, when the survey started, Minnesota has topped it 9 of 15 years and has never been out of the top two. Minnesota tied New Hampshire in 2003.
The report is a yearly comprehensive analysis of the healthiness of Americans conducted by the Minnetonka-based United Health Foundation, Washington-based American Public Health Association (APHA) and Washington-based Partnership for Prevention.

Minnesota achieved the top ranking with a low rate of death from cardiovascular disease, a low premature death rate and a low rate of uninsured people, at 8.7 percent.

It was in the top five states for high support for public health, low infant mortality rates, and a low rate of work related deaths.

The state's biggest health challenges include 23 percent of the population being obese and only 76 percent of women receiving adequate prenatal care.

The top three states in order were Minnesota, New Hampshire and Vermont. The bottom three states were Louisiana at 50, Mississippi at 49 and Tennessee at 48.

Health in the United States has steadily improved during the 17 years of the study. But the rate of improvement slowed between 2003 and 2004, in part because of an epidemic of obesity. The prevalence of obesity in the country has increased by 97 percent since 1990.

Also, 2004 was the first year during the study's history that the rate of infant mortality increased. The United States now ranks 28th in the world with an infant mortality rate of 7 per 1,000 live births. The complete report can be found at the United Health Foundation's Web site.

Kerry's new legislation for protecting every child with health care needs to be reviewed and if clear and helpful, supported by each of us lobbying our local members of Congress. Let's get organized on important issues at the local level

I agree. I hope this experiment he introduced with the video and pledge is successful and heralds a turning point in citizen involvement.