List of unhealthiest states released—Southerners at high risk - Brief Article

AORN Journal, Jan, 2003

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has released its list of top 10 unhealthy states, according to an Oct 10, 2002, news release from the organization. Those states that made the list, ranked in order of least healthy states, are

* Mississippi,

* Texas,

* West Virginia,

* Kentucky,

* Tennessee,

* Illinois,

* Michigan,

* Missouri,

* Louisiana, and

* Arkansas.

When compiling the list, PCRM examined rates of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Nutritionists analyzed the most recent incidence rates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association.

Doctors Launch Healthy Eating Campaign in America's Least Healthy States: Southern States at Highest Risk (news release, Washington, DC: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Oct 10, 2002)http://www.pcrm .org/news/health021010.html (accessed 21 Oct 2002).