As Iowa strives to become the nation’s healthiest state by the year 2016, it was dealt a blow when it slipped in an annual ranking of America’s healthiest states.
In the report, released on December 11th by United Health Foundation, Iowa fell to number 20, down from number 16 the year before.
The report lists strengths and challenges for Iowa, including:
Strengths:
- High rate of high school graduation
- Low percentage of children in poverty
- Few poor mental & physical health days per month
Challenges:
- High prevalence of binge drinking
- Limited availability of primary care physicians
- High incidence of infectious disease
