Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, December 13, 2018
(UNDATED) - Indiana is facing serious health challenges, according to an annual state-by-state ranking of key health indicators.
America's Health Rankings 2018 report places Indiana 41st among states, down from 38th in 2017.
Senior Medical Advisor with the United Health Foundation Dr. Rhonda Randall is especially concerned about smoking in Indiana, which rose six percent while decreasing in many other states.
Indiana ranks 29th nationwide in funding programs that prevent kids from using tobacco and helping smokers quit, and is spending just 10.2 percent of the CDC's recommended funds this year, according to a new report.
Randall says the prevalence of obesity is of greatest concern at the national level. It now impacts 31 percent of adults and is a primary contributor to heart disease and cancer.
The top five causes of premature death in the United States are cancer, unintentional injuries, heart disease, suicide, and perinatal deaths. Nearly half of U.S. premature deaths are due to tobacco use, lack of physical activity and poor diet.
Indiana's adult obesity rate is slightly higher at 33 percent.
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