The numbers are as alarming as ever concerning the health of Hoosiers.
Among the 50 states, Indiana ranks 44th in smoking, 42nd in obesity, 42 in physical activity, 41st in preventable hospitalizations and, as if a natural consequence, 45th in heart attacks.
If nothing else, Indiana is consistent in being unhealthy.
The statistics came from the “America's Health Rankings“ report published by the United Health Foundation.
The report notes some strengths, finding Hoosiers have a low prevalence of binge drinking and a low rate of uninsured population. In the past five years, the rate of preventable hospitalizations decreased from 83.2 to 76.0 discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees.
All told, Indiana is ranked 41st in the nation health-wise. In 2011, we were 37th.
For the most part, Hoosiers undercut their own health. Indiana has one of the highest prevalences of smoking in the U.S., with more than 1.25 million adults still smoking. More than a half million adults in Indiana have diabetes, and more than 1.5 million adults are obese.
What gives? Indiana has one of the lowest amounts of public health funding in the country, but that has still increased from $33 to $44 per person during the previous five years.
Yet smoking is more prevalent among non-Hispanic blacks at 30.8 percent than non-Hispanic whites at 21.4 percent and Hispanics at 20.1 percent. Obesity is more prevalent among non-Hispanic blacks at 37.2 percent than non-Hispanic whites at 29.7 percent.
The bad news could be attributed to sedentary lifestyles. Technology has made it more comfortable for us to sit at our work desks, sit at our home computer tables and sit in a car between those tasks. But technology can also help promote healthy living. Consider getting that smartphone app that records when someone eats and sends that information to a coach. In turn, a clinician recommends weight-loss treatment.
Programs exist in every community to prevent obesity, end smoking, address diabetes and promote healthy living. But Hoosiers don’t seem to listen.
That’s a sad statement for the younger generations who may fall into the same unhealthy traps, or sadly, end up paying for their parents’ missteps.
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