This Is the Most Unhealthy State in America, According to Data

If the pandemic has done one thing, it's shown us the importance, and fragility, of our personal health. And while wearing a mask, social distancing, and frequent hand-washing can help stop the spread of diseases, there are many more factors that go into maintaining your overall physical health. Eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly are all essential to your well-being—not to mention, how important it is to have access to quality, affordable healthcare whenever you need it. So, to see where people in the U.S. are taking the best—and the worst—care of themselves, Best Life set out to determine the most unhealthy state in America.

First, we turned to US News & World Report, which ranked each state based on the availability, cost, and quality of healthcare accessible to residents, giving them a score from 1, being the best, to 50, being the worst. Then, we gathered the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the next four metrics, beginning with the percentage of adults in each state who reported engaging in zero physical activity in the last 30 days. After that, we used CDC data—organized by America's Health Rankings—to find out the percentage of adults in each state who eat at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables on a daily basis. Next, we factored in the percentage of adults who qualify as obese in each state, meaning they have a body mass index (BMI) over 30, according to the CDC.

Finally, we factored in the percentage of adults who regularly get an insufficient amount of sleep, defined as less than seven hours in a 24-hour period. We then gave each metric a weighted value before running them through our exclusive algorithm to see how each state scored on our 100-point scale Unhealthy Index. Read on to discover the most unhealthy state in America and find out where yours falls in the mix. And for the part of the country that poses a different kind of risk, check out The Most Dangerous Small Town in America, According to Data.

Access to healthcare rank: 5

Physical inactivity prevalence: 20.5 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 14.1 percent

Obesity prevalence: 26.6 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 29.9 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 0.00

Access to healthcare rank: 29

Physical inactivity prevalence: 17.3 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 9.0 percent

Obesity prevalence: 23.8 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 29.8 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 16.81

Access to healthcare rank: 3

Physical inactivity prevalence: 22.7 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 11.3 percent

Obesity prevalence: 29.1 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 33.2 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 20.20

Access to healthcare rank: 12

Physical inactivity prevalence: 18.3 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.7 percent

Obesity prevalence: 28.3 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 31.6 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 20.63

Access to healthcare rank: 2

Physical inactivity prevalence: 23.3 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.8 percent

Obesity prevalence: 25.2 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 33.9 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 22.91

Access to healthcare rank: 18

Physical inactivity prevalence: 21.2 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.5 percent

Obesity prevalence: 30.1 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 28.7 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 26.55

Access to healthcare rank: 21

Physical inactivity prevalence: 20.4 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.7 percent

Obesity prevalence: 26.2 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 34.4 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 30.70

And for the place that needs a few lessons when it comes to good manners, This Is the Rudest State in America, According to Data.

Access to healthcare rank: 32

Physical inactivity prevalence: 19.2 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 9.0 percent

Obesity prevalence: 29.0 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 32.1 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 33.67

Access to healthcare rank: 9

Physical inactivity prevalence: 21.8 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 9.1 percent

Obesity prevalence: 25.0 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 42.9 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 34.05

Access to healthcare rank: 24

Physical inactivity prevalence: 22.5 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 7.5 percent

Obesity prevalence: 28.3 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 30.1 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 34.39

Access to healthcare rank: 30

Physical inactivity prevalence: 18.6 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 7.4 percent

Obesity prevalence: 29.2 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 31.2 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 34.72

Access to healthcare rank: 1

Physical inactivity prevalence: 21.6 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 9.1 percent

Obesity prevalence: 25.0 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 42.9 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 34.91

Access to healthcare rank: 4

Physical inactivity prevalence: 25.9percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 10.4 percent

Obesity prevalence: 30.0 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 36.5 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 35.92

Access to healthcare rank: 10

Physical inactivity prevalence: 26.6 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 11.0 percent

Obesity prevalence: 27.1 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 38.6 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 37.95

And for the place that's no stranger to bending the rules, This Is the Most Corrupt State in America, According to Data.

Access to healthcare rank: 15

Physical inactivity prevalence: 21.4 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 7.5 percent

Obesity prevalence: 34.2 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 32.0 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 40.39

Access to healthcare rank: 6

Physical inactivity prevalence: 24.2 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 7.1 percent

Obesity prevalence: 33.9 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 31.7 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 40.45

Access to healthcare rank: 8

Physical inactivity prevalence: 28.7 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.9 percent

Obesity prevalence: 25.6 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 37.6 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 42.07

Access to healthcare rank: 27

Physical inactivity prevalence: 23.2 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 9.2 percent

Obesity prevalence: 31.7 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 33.2 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 43.28

Access to healthcare rank: 39

Physical inactivity prevalence: 21.5 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.3 percent

Obesity prevalence: 29.5 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 32.6 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 44.73

Access to healthcare rank: 7

Physical inactivity prevalence: 23.9 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.0 percent

Obesity prevalence: 32.3 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 37.1 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 45.42

Access to healthcare rank: 34

Physical inactivity prevalence: 22.3 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 6.7 percent

Obesity prevalence: 33.0 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 29.1 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 46.83

Access to healthcare rank: 20

Physical inactivity prevalence: 24.3 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 6.9 percent

Obesity prevalence: 31.6 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 33.2 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 47.67

Access to healthcare rank: 14

Physical inactivity prevalence: 24.0 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.8 percent

Obesity prevalence: 31.9 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 38.0 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 48.05

Access to healthcare rank: 47

Physical inactivity prevalence: 20.3 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.1 percent

Obesity prevalence: 30.5 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 33.5 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 50.63

Access to healthcare rank: 43

Physical inactivity prevalence: 23.7 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 10.2 percent

Obesity prevalence: 31.4 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 34.0 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 50.67

Access to healthcare rank: 28

Physical inactivity prevalence: 24.2 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 7.3 percent

Obesity prevalence: 34.1 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 31.6 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 51.45

Access to healthcare rank: 38

Physical inactivity prevalence: 22.3 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 6.6 percent

Obesity prevalence: 31.7 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 32.6 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 53.60

Access to healthcare rank: 11

Physical inactivity prevalence: 24.8 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 7.0 percent

Obesity prevalence: 33.2 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 37.5 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 53.86

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Access to healthcare rank: 25

Physical inactivity prevalence: 24.8 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 7.0 percent

Obesity prevalence: 33.2 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 37.5 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 55.03

Access to healthcare rank: 13

Physical inactivity prevalence: 28.4 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.4 percent

Obesity prevalence: 34.4 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 35.5 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 55.16

Access to healthcare rank: 31

Physical inactivity prevalence: 25.0 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.6 percent

Obesity prevalence: 35.2 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 33.1 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 55.17

Access to healthcare rank: 44

Physical inactivity prevalence: 24.1 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 6.9 percent

Obesity prevalence: 29.7 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 32.9 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 56.36

Access to healthcare rank: 33

Physical inactivity prevalence: 24.6 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 5.8 percent

Obesity prevalence: 34.8 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 32.0 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 60.66ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Access to healthcare rank: 23

Physical inactivity prevalence: 28.3 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 9.1 percent

Obesity prevalence: 35.3 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 36.9 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 62.20

Access to healthcare rank: 41

Physical inactivity prevalence: 28 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 7.1 percent

Obesity prevalence: 27.0 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 36.5 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 63.16

Access to healthcare rank: 45

Physical inactivity prevalence: 27.9 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 9.6 percent

Obesity prevalence: 34.0 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 34.5 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 65.16

And for more on the place where people care a lot about money, This Is the Greediest State in America, According to Data.

Access to healthcare rank: 17

Physical inactivity prevalence: 25.1 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 6.5 percent

Obesity prevalence: 36.0 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 39.0 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 65.88

Access to healthcare rank: 36

Physical inactivity prevalence: 26.8 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 6.1. percent

Obesity prevalence: 34.8 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 34.0 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 68.69

Access to healthcare rank: 19

Physical inactivity prevalence: 27.0 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 6.3 percent

Obesity prevalence: 34.8 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 39.7 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 70.06

Access to healthcare rank: 35

Physical inactivity prevalence: 27.2 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 7.2 percent

Obesity prevalence: 35.4 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 37.4 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 72.93

Access to healthcare rank: 50

Physical inactivity prevalence: 25.6 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 5.4 percent

Obesity prevalence: 30.6 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 37.0 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 74.99

Access to healthcare rank: 26

Physical inactivity prevalence: 30.9 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 6.9 percent

Obesity prevalence: 35.9 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 37.5 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 76.15

Access to healthcare rank: 46

Physical inactivity prevalence: 28.5 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 7.6 percent

Obesity prevalence: 33.1 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 38.0 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 77.28

Access to healthcare rank: 37

Physical inactivity prevalence: 30.0 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.6 percent

Obesity prevalence: 36.5 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 40.0 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 81.17

Access to healthcare rank: 40

Physical inactivity prevalence: 32.5 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 8.0 percent

Obesity prevalence: 37.4 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 36.1 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 82.77

Access to healthcare rank: 16

Physical inactivity prevalence: 32.2 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 4.7 percent

Obesity prevalence: 36.5 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 41.1 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 86.70

Access to healthcare rank: 42

Physical inactivity prevalence: 31.0 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 5.9 percent

Obesity prevalence: 36.1 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 38.6 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 89.72

Access to healthcare rank: 22

Physical inactivity prevalence: 29.8 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 5.2 percent

Obesity prevalence: 39.7 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 41.4 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 89.90

Access to healthcare rank: 48

Physical inactivity prevalence: 30.2 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 5.1 percent

Obesity prevalence: 36.8 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 37.0 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 91.87

Access to healthcare rank: 49

Physical inactivity prevalence: 33 percent

Fruit and vegetable consumption: 6.3 percent

Obesity prevalence: 40.8 percent

Lack of sleep prevalence: 37.1 percent

Unhealthy Index Score: 100.00

And for the place where a lack of safety is a major problem, This Is the Most Dangerous State in America, According to Data.