SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Utah comes in as the seventh healthiest state this year, according to United Health Foundation's America Health Ratings. Our spot in the top ten is good, but not as good as it was last year.
In 2011 Utah was the fifth healthiest. The biggest change from last year is the relatively low number of primary care physicians available to the Utah population. The study found about 89.4 PCPs are available per 100,000 people. That puts Utah near the bottom for primary care physicians compared to other states.
There are still quite a few positives to talk about, Utah has the lowest smoking rate in the country and the third lowest binge drinking rate.
Utah has the lowest prevalence of diabetes in the county and we rank second for sedentary lifestyle and sixth for obesity.
Those last results are good, but could be better.
Pam Gold from United Healthcare said the need for change has to come on a personal level, "You can't make a change, if you don't want to make a change."
It is the personal change that will get Utah closer to the top of America's Health Rankings.
