PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island is the 18th-best state for holiday health, according to a new study.
The study, published by Life Extension, ranked U.S. states based on eight health categories from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: fruit consumption; vegetable consumption; exercise; health status; mental health; heart disease rate; smoking rate; and heavy drinking rate. States received scores for each metric and the overall ranking was calculated looking at the average of all scores.
Rhode Island ranked No. 18, with an overall score of 0.3, while neighboring Massachusetts ranked No. 2 with a 0.68 score.
The study also calculated the national average for each category and found that Rhode Island tied the national average in exercise and eating vegetables categories. It is healthier than the average score in four categories – eating fruit; good overall health; heart disease; and smoking – and less healthy in two categories – heavy drinking and mental health.
Claudia Chiappa is a PBN staff writer. You may contact her at Chiappa@PBN.com.
