A Healthier Outlook for Texas
America’s Health Rankings Point to Progress, Challenges for Lone Star State
January 9, 2014
Amidst the end of year rankings and retrospectives, one annual progress report deserves a closer look. It’s America’s Health Rankings. The rankings show Texas slipping a notch from the previous year’s report, ranking 36th 2013 in our overall health.
Texas’ ranking – as determined by United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association and the Partnership for Prevention – takes into account 27 different metrics, ranging from specific health measures and behaviors to clinical care and public policy.
There are some bright spots in Texas’ report, notably:
- Low rate of cancer deaths
- Fewer poor mental health days per month
- Low rate of drug deaths
In the past year, Texas also saw a decline in the prevalence of binge drinking, decreasing from 18.9 percent to 16.2 percent of adults. Over the past decade, violent crime has also decreased in the Lone Star State by 40 percent.
Yet, there is much work to be done to address a wide array of challenges the state faces if we’re to improve the health of our citizens. Challenges include:
- Almost 5.4 million adult Texans (29.3 percent) are obese
- More than 5 million adults (27.2 percent) are physically inactive
- More than 3.3 million adults smoke
- Highest percentage of uninsured population (Texas ranks 50th)
America’s Health Rankings, and Texas’ position in the bottom half, should serve as a call to action. As the Texas Department of State Health Services’ Christine Mann told the Austin American-Statesman (Dec. 11, 2013) recently, “Improving health is up to a broad array of national, state and local groups, communities and governments.”
The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities will continue to work with community leaders, other health care organizations and local and state leaders to advance policy and practices that help improve Texans’ health.
Learn more at www.AmericasHealthRankings.org.
