Health Report: Arizona Adults Lead US In Per-Day Veggie Consumption
The United Health Foundation released its annual America’s Health Rankings last month. Arizona now ranks as the 29th healthiest state in the United States — a one-spot improvement from 2015.
The biggest surprise in the report? Arizona ranks No. 1 in the mean number of vegetables consumed per day by adults. And in the fruits category, Arizona ranks No. 9, up from No. 26 last year. The data was collected by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a system of health-related telephone surveys sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Smoking prevalence in Arizona also changed significantly from year to year. Arizona ranks No. 6 (up from No. 16) with just 14 percent of adults identifying as smokers.
America’s Health Rankings measures a variety of factors, ranging from air pollution to violent crime, "to provide a holistic view of the health of the nation."
Here's a snapshot of where Arizona ranks in several categories. Click here to see how this year's Arizona rankings compare to 2015.
All Measures
| Measure Name | 2016 Rank | 2015 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 29 | 30 |
| Air Pollution | 43 | 37 |
| All Determinants | 30 | 32 |
| All Outcomes | 24 | 20 |
| Behaviors | 21 | 30 |
| Binge Drinking | 11 | 15 |
| Cancer Deaths | 6 | 5 |
| Cardiovascular Deaths | 7 | 10 |
| Children in Poverty | 47 | 46 |
| Chlamydia | 37 | 33 |
| Cholesterol Check | 27 | 45 |
| Chronic Drinking | 13 | 24 |
| Clinical Care | 22 | 24 |
| Colorectal Cancer Screening | 36 | 36 |
| Community & Environment | 40 | 38 |
| Dental Visit, Annual | 41 | 41 |
| Dentists | 28 | 25 |
| Diabetes | 27 | 25 |
| Disparity in Health Status | 43 | 38 |
| Drug Deaths | 41 | 41 |
| Excessive Drinking | 13 | 17 |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 24 | NR |
| Frequent Physical Distress | 27 | NR |
| Fruits | 9 | 26 |
| Heart Attack | 26 | NR |
| Heart Disease | 18 | 17 |
| High Blood Pressure | 23 | 18 |
| High Cholesterol | 33 | 35 |
| High Health Status | 33 | 31 |
| High School Graduation | 44 | 44 |
| Immunization HPV female | 21 | 35 |
| Immunization HPV male | 28 | 35 |
| Immunization Meningococcal | 12 | 14 |
| Immunization Tdap | 30 | 36 |
| Immunizations - Adolescents | 20 | 26 |
| Immunizations - Children | 26 | 43 |
| Income Disparity | 30 | 30 |
| Infant Mortality | 23 | 18 |
| Infectious Disease | 31 | 37 |
| Injury Deaths | 38 | NR |
| Insufficient Sleep | 20 | 20 |
| Lack of Health Insurance | 37 | 41 |
| Low Birthweight | 12 | 12 |
| Median Household Income | 32 | 37 |
| Obesity | 17 | 21 |
| Occupational Fatalities | 8 | 8 |
| Personal Income, Per Capita | 42 | 41 |
| Pertussis | 27 | 43 |
| Physical Inactivity | 18 | 15 |
| Policy | 36 | 46 |
| Poor Mental Health Days | 30 | 22 |
| Poor Physical Health Days | 27 | 31 |
| Premature Death | 24 | 28 |
| Preventable Hospitalizations | 9 | 7 |
| Primary Care Physicians | 37 | 42 |
| Public Health Funding | 48 | 49 |
| Salmonella | 33 | 31 |
| Seat Belt Use | 26 | NR |
| Smoking | 6 | 16 |
| Stroke | 25 | 25 |
| Suicide | 38 | 41 |
| Underemployment Rate | 49 | 48 |
| Unemployment Rate, Annual | 42 | 42 |
| Vegetables | 1 | 10 |
| Violent Crime | 34 | 36 |
| Water Fluoridation | 38 | NR |
