Iowa is on the way to becoming the healthiest state in the nation. For the second straight year, we’ve placed in the top 10 on the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, showing continuous improvement in overall wellbeing since 2010.
The Well-Being Index is compiled from a daily survey that measures physical and emotional health, healthy behaviors, work environment, social and community factors, financial security, and access to necessities such as food, shelter and healthcare. Many of the states that outrank Iowa are our neighbors, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota.
To reach our goal of becoming the healthiest state in the nation by 2016, we still have work to do in five key areas:
1. Tobacco use: Decreasing the number of Iowans who smoke.
2. Nutrition: Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables. It’s hard to believe Iowa—the agricultural heartland—ranks 43rd in consuming fruits and vegetables.
3. Lifelong learning: Increasing the number of Iowans who are learning or doing something new and interesting daily.
4. Dental health: Increasing the number of Iowans who have visited the dentist in the last year. One in three Iowans are not getting to the dentist regularly.
5. Workplace wellbeing: Increasing the number of Iowans who feel their boss treats them like a partner at work. Iowa ranks 6th in workplace partnerships.
To learn more about Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative and how you can take advantage of the resources it has to offer to improve you own wellbeing, go to www.iowahealthieststate.com.
Find out how America’s wellbeing is changing at http://info.healthways.com/wbi2013.