For the fourth year in a row, Vermont has been ranked as the healthiest state in the country.
Governor Peter Shumlin and Health Commissioner Dr. Harry Chen say the state did well in a variety of categories, including low incidences in violent crime and low-birth-weight-babies, as well as low rates of infectious disease.
Vermont’s obesity rate is growing, but not as fast as those in most other states.
Among the state’s challenges: a relatively high rate of binge drinking and a higher rate of deaths from cancer than most other states.
The rankings are done by the United Health Foundation.