U.S. making gains against smoking, but challenges remain for chronic disease

United Health Foundation’s latest report on health in the U.S. paints a complicated picture: There have been significant strides against smoking and infant mortality, but chronic conditions are still a growing problem. Here’s a snapshot of the findings: 

• Successes: Nationally, smoking rates have dropped by 45% since the foundation’s first report in 1990. Infant mortality rates are at a 30-year low. 
• Challenges: Rates of obesity among adults across the country have increased 166% in the past 30 years. Drug-induced deaths (both intentional and unintentional) increased 104% since 2007. 
• State-level trends: Vermont earned the spot for the healthiest state, for low levels of health disparities and low rates of mental health problems. Mississippi dropped to the bottom spot, with a higher-than-average rate of infant mortality and high rates of obesity and cardiovascular deaths.