The United Health Foundation’s annual national healthy study ranked Delaware 31st in the nation for overall health.
Here are some of the key findings:
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Obesity/Physical Activity
- The obesity rate increased slightly from 30.7% to 31.8% at 31.6% – ranked #28 in the nation
- The percentage of adults who reported doing no physical activity or exercise increased from 26.6% to 31.0% – #44 in the nation
- DE is among the bottom states for neighborhood amenities, with 28.8% of children aged 0 to 17 having access to parks/playgrounds, recreation or community centers, libraries and sidewalks/walking paths ““ below the national average of 38.6%
Drug Use
- In the past two years, drug deaths increased 33% from 18.1 to 24.0 deaths per 100,000 population – #42 in the nation
- DE ranks #32 in premature death, with 7,992 years lost before age 75 per 100,000 population
Mental Health - In the past year, mental health providers increased 6% from 235.7 to 249.6 per 100,000 population
- In the past six years, frequent mental distress increased 30% from 10.5% to 13.7% of adults
- DE had 12.2 suicide deaths per 100,000 population in 2018 ““ below the national average of 13.9
Access to Care
- In the past two years, infant mortality increased 29% from 6.5 to 8.4 deaths per 1,000 live births
DE ranks #48 in infant mortality and #39 in low birthweight - Delaware ranks #47 in the nation with only 44.1 dentists per 100,000 population
Other
- The percentage of children aged 0 to 17 in poverty increased from 16.9% to 18.5%
- In the past six years, excessive drinking decreased 24% from 22.1% to 16.8% of adults
- In the past 10 years, air pollution decreased 41% from 14.6 to 8.6 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter
- DE is among the states with the highest percentage of disconnected youth (teens and young adults aged 16 to 24 neither working nor in school) at 14.3% – above the national average of 11.7%
