Unhealthy America

5 States Drinking Too Much Soda


1. Mississippi > Pct. consuming soda and/or fruit drinks daily: 41.4%
> Obesity rate: 35.1%
> Pct. consuming vegetables less than daily: 23.2%
> Median household income: $37,963
More than 41% of Mississippi adults reported more-than-daily consumption of regular soda or fruit drinks, by far the highest percentage among states reviewed. Nearly 51% reported less-than-daily fruit consumption, and more than 32% reported less-than-daily vegetable consumption, both some of the highest such rates. Relatively unhealthy diets in Mississippi are partly the result of poor socioeconomic factors, which can contribute to limited access to healthy food sources as well as lower health literacy levels among the population. Mississippi had the nation’s lowest median household income and the nation’s highest poverty rate at $37,963 and 24%, respectively.

2. Tennessee
> Pct. consuming soda and/or fruit drinks daily: 39.2%
> Obesity rate: 33.7%
> Pct. consuming vegetables less than daily: 26.8%
> Median household income: $44,297
High consumption of the often more affordable sugary beverages in Tennessee is largely the result of poor socioeconomic factors. Like all five states with the highest sugar consumption, Tennessee’s median household income of $44,297 was considerably lower than the national median income. Also, nearly half of the children in the state were eligible for free school lunch, the 10th highest share compared to all states. Not only do low incomes frequently contribute to a poor diet, but low incomes make it difficult to address health conditions when they arise.


3. Nevada
> Pct. consuming soda and/or fruit drinks daily: 36.3%
> Obesity rate: 26.2%
> Pct. consuming vegetables less than daily: 24.4%
> Median household income: $51,230
The elements of a healthy diet, such as low intake of added sugars, often need to be learned. Poor health literacy often contributes to an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. As in other states with high sugar consumption, Nevada residents had relatively low educational attainment rates. Less than 23% of adults in the state had at least a bachelor’s degree, much lower than the nearly 30% of Americans with at least a bachelor’s degree.


4. Oklahoma
> Pct. consuming soda and/or fruit drinks daily: 34.5%
> Obesity rate: 32.5%
> Pct. consuming vegetables less than daily: 25.4%
> Median household income: $45,690
More than half of Oklahoma residents reported consuming fruits less than once daily, nearly the highest proportion of residents consuming relatively few fruits. This was similar to just two other states reviewed. Low consumption of fruits and vegetables and high consumption of sugary drinks are both related to poor access to healthy food. Nearly one-quarter of state residents had poor access to sources of healthy and affordable food — one of the higher rates nationwide.




5. Georgia
> Pct. consuming soda and/or fruit drinks daily: 33.1%
> Obesity rate: 30.3%
> Pct. consuming vegetables less than daily: 32.3%
> Median household income: $47,829

Roughly one in three Georgian adults consumed regular soda and/or fruit drinks more than once a day, the fifth highest share among states reviewed. This was much higher than the just over 26% of American adults across the 18 states who reported more-than-daily sweetened beverage consumption. The reason for high sugar consumption is unclear. The CDC suggests, however, that poor diet quality is closely associated with lower socioeconomic status. As in all other five states with the highest sugary drink consumption, Georgia’s median household income of $47,829 was lower than the national median income figure of $52,250. Georgia’s poverty rate of 19% was also significantly higher than the national poverty rate of 15.8%.


The States With the Most McDonald’s

1. Ohio
> McDonald’s locations per 100,000 residents: 7.10
> Obesity rate: 30.4% (16th highest)
> Pct. consuming vegetables less than daily: 26.0% (12th highest)
> Median household income: $48,081 (19th lowest)
Ohio has more McDonald’s restaurants, 7.1 per 100,000 residents, than any other state and almost twice as many as Burger King’s 3.7 locations per 100,000 residents. There are far fewer McDonald’s outlets than Subways, which has 10.9 shops per 100,000 residents, more than in any other state. Ohio has the second-highest concentration of all major fast food restaurants. Only 15 states had an obesity rate higher than Ohio’s 30.4% in 2013. Ohio also has among the highest cardiovascular and cancer death rates, 274.6 per 100,000 and 207.7 per 100,000 respectively.


2. Michigan
> McDonald’s locations per 100,000 residents: 6.38
> Obesity rate: 31.5% (11th highest)
> Pct. consuming vegetables less than daily: 23.2% (23rd highest)
> Median household income: $48,273 (20th lowest)
Michigan has about 6.4 McDonald’s restaurants per 100,000 residents. The state is one of the most popular for fast food chains. In addition to McDonald’s, Michigan is in the top 10 for the number of Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, KFC and Subway locations per 100,000 residents. McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants are often frequented by customers looking for affordable food. As in many other states with the most McDonalds, Michigan had a relatively high poverty rate of 16.8%. High concentrations of fast food restaurants are also tied to relatively poor health outcomes. Michigan’s obesity rate, 31.5%, was higher than all but 10 states, and its heart disease death rate was higher than all but seven states.


3. Kansas
> McDonald’s locations per 100,000 residents: 6.36
> Obesity rate: 30.0% (19th highest)
> Pct. consuming vegetables less than daily: 22.2% (19th lowest)
> Median household income: $50,972 (24th lowest)
An estimated 26.4% of Kansas residents had little access to grocery stores in 2010, the ninth-highest percentage in the country. This might help explain the prevalence of fast food restaurants in the state. Fast food chains thrive in Kansas. The state leads the nation with 39 major fast food chain restaurants for every 100,000 residents. McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Subway, and Pizza Hut are all among the most common in Kansas compared to other states. About 30% of Kansas residents were obese, tied with Pennsylvania and ahead of 30 other states. Kansas, a major U.S. beef producer, supplies McDonald’s

 

4. Maryland
> McDonald’s locations per 100,000 residents: 6.33
> Obesity rate: 28.3% (22nd lowest)
> Pct. consuming vegetables less than daily: 22.8% (25th lowest)
> Median household income: $72,483 (the highest)

Maryland residents are exceptionally wealthy compared to other states with the most McDonald’s locations. The median household in Maryland earned $72,483 in 2013, the highest income in the nation. Residents were well educated, with more than 37% of adults having attained at least a bachelor’s degree, the third-highest rate in the country. There were three Starbucks stores per 100,000 Maryland residents, the eighth-highest proportion and exceptionally high compared to other states with the most McDonald’s. McDonald’s, as well as many other fast food restaurants, is popular among customers looking for inexpensive food, but high incomes in Maryland have not prevented numerous fast food restaurants from opening throughout the state. Chick-fil-A, KFC, and Wendy’s are all also quite common. Unlike most states with large numbers of McDonald’s restaurants, Maryland residents reported relatively healthy habits and outcomes, with better-than-average fruit and vegetable consumption, and an obesity rate of 28.3% — one of the lower percentages in the country.

5. Louisiana
> McDonald’s locations per 100,000 residents: 6.30
> Obesity rate: 33.1% (6th highest)
> Pct. consuming vegetables less than daily: 32.5% (the highest)
> Median household income: $44,164 (8th lowest)
There are 6.3 McDonald’s restaurants and 4.1 Burger Kings per 100,000 residents in Louisiana, the fifth- and second-highest rates, respectively, in the country. Louisiana had the fourth-highest poverty rate in the country at 19.1% and the eighth-lowest median household income, $44,164. Louisiana also had some of the lowest educational attainment rates in the country in 2013. About 83.1% of residents had at at least a high school diploma, and 22.5% had at least a college degree, each the fourth-lowest rates in the country. The prevalence of fast food restaurants is often representative of poor food landscape, in which residents often do not have easy access to healthy foods. This, in turn, can increase the likelihood of negative health outcomes. About one-third of Louisiana residents were obese, a rate exceeded by only five other states. Further, the state’s residents had among the highest rates of diabetes, high blood pressure

The States With the Most Deadly Accidents


1. West Virginia
> Age-adjusted accidental deaths per 100,000: 71.5
> Pct. population using mind-altering drugs almost daily: 28.1 (the highest)
> Premature death (years of potential life lost prior to age 75 per 100,000): 10,159 (2nd highest)
> Leading cause of accidental death: Poison
There were more than 71 unintentional deaths per 100,000 people in West Virginia, by far the highest accidental death rate nationwide. Poison accounted for more than 31 accidental deaths per 100,000 people in the state, the highest rate in the country and nearly 10 percentage points higher than New Mexico’s second-place poison death rate. Nearly all poison deaths in West Virginia were drug related. In a recent Gallup survey, more than 28% of state residents reported using mind-altering drugs to relax nearly every day, the highest proportion in the nation. Daily mind-altering drug use is not necessarily linked to deaths, but the high percentage is inline with the incidence of drug overdoses in the state, including what state officials are calling a heroin epidemic.


2. Oklahoma
> Age-adjusted accidental deaths per 100,000: 62.6
> Pct. population using mind-altering drugs almost daily: 21.5 (13th highest)
> Premature death (years of potential life lost prior to age 75 per 100,000): 9,654 (5th highest)
> Leading cause of accidental death: Poison
More than 19 poison-related fatalities per 100,000 people in Oklahoma were reported, the sixth highest poison death rate in the country. As in other states, drugs accounted for the majority of poison deaths. Also, like most other states with high rates of accidental drug deaths, 21.5% of Oklahoma residents reported near-daily drug use to Gallup, one of the higher percentages compared with other states. Car accidents caused roughly 19 deaths per 100,000 Oklahoma residents, trailing only poison as the largest contributor to the state’s accidental death rate, and it was the fourth highest such rate nationwide.
3. New Mexico
> Age-adjusted accidental deaths per 100,000: 58.8
> Pct. population using mind-altering drugs almost daily: 18.4 (25th lowest)
> Premature death (years of potential life lost prior to age 75 per 100,000): 8,445 (10th highest)
> Leading cause of accidental death: Poison
There were 21.5 poisoning deaths per 100,000 New Mexico residents, the second-highest such rate nationwide and the largest contributor to accidental deaths in the state. Drug poisoning, including alcohol, accounted for most of these deaths. The approximately 3.2 non-drug deaths, such as ingesting household chemicals by mistake, accounted for the remainder and was the second-highest non-drug-related poisoning death rate nationwide. The prevalence of drug use in the state may be tied to poor socio-economic factors. Nearly 19% of residents did not have health insurance, a higher share than in all but four states. Also, a typical household earned $43,872 in 2013, nearly the lowest median household income nationwide. In addition to the high rate of accidental deaths, New Mexico’s violent crime rate of 597 per 100,000 people was nearly the highest in the country.


4. Montana
> Age-adjusted accidental deaths per 100,000: 57.4
> Pct. population using mind-altering drugs almost daily: 17.7 (18th lowest)
> Premature death (years of potential life lost prior to age 75 per 100,000): 7,480 (20th highest)
> Leading cause of accidental death: Motor vehicle accidents

There were about 23 motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 Montana residents, the highest such rate nationwide and the leading cause of accidental deaths in the state. Montana is one of only a few states without required vehicle emission or periodic safety inspections, which may result in relatively more unsafe vehicles. Montana is also a very large state with a relatively small population, which likely increases travel times for many residents. Together with severe driving conditions during Montana’s extreme winter months, the lack of inspections and the long driving times likely drove the state’s high number of motor vehicle accidents. Falling was the second leading cause of accidental deaths in Montana, with a reported 12.6 falling deaths per 100,000 residents, the ninth highest such rate in the country.


5. Mississippi
> Age-adjusted accidental deaths per 100,000: 55.5
> Pct. population using mind-altering drugs almost daily: 22.3 (7th highest)
> Premature death (years of potential life lost prior to age 75 per 100,000): 10,354 (the highest)
> Leading cause of accidental death: Motor vehicle accidents
Motor vehicles were the leading cause of accidental deaths in Mississippi at 22.5 such deaths per 100,000 residents, the second highest rate in the nation. There may be relatively more unsafe drivers in Mississippi, as the state was one of just a handful of states not to have a point system for driving violations. Depending on the state, points could result in the suspension or revocation of a driver’s license. In Mississippi, however violations are entered on a driver’s record, which is available to insurance companies and potential employers. Drug-related poisoning was the second leading cause of accidental death in Mississippi, with 9.3 drug poisoning-related deaths per 100,000 residents. The state had by far the nation’s highest rate of accidental death by suffocation at 6.1 such deaths per 100,000 residents.