Updated National Health Ranking Shows No Improvement For Hoosiers

Friday, December 6, 2019 at 8:57 AM

Major factors affecting Indiana's rank are obesity, drug deaths, and diabetes.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - The 2019 results are in for America's Health Rankings.

Indiana is ranked #41 for the second year in a row. Major factors affecting Indiana's rank are obesity, drug deaths, and diabetes.

Rank is based on the "weighted sum of the number of standard deviations each core measure is from the national average."

A Health Assessment and Improvement Plan was created in 2018 to identify health issues and find ways to improve the overall health of Hoosiers. This plan will run through the remainder of 2021.

The top ten identified priorities of the local State Health Assessment included:

Access to care
Mental and behavioral health
Obesity
Substance abuse disorders
Nutrition and physical activity
Diabetes
Tobacco use
Heart disease
Cancer Maternal and infant health

Many of these SHA priorities were found to be the culprits keeping Indiana at the bottom of the rankings.

Highlights from the 2019 Indiana Summary of the health rankings include a 9% increase in obesity, 176% increase of drug related deaths since 2007, and a 23% increase of diabetes since 2012.

To view all of the data collected by the United Health Foundation for America's Health Ranking, you can visit the website here.

Events

The Crafty Crew (ages 18-30): Beaded Plants
Welcome to The Crafty Crew- a group for young adults ages 18 to 30 who want to hang out and craft! This month create beaded plants.
May 13, 2026 at Lawrenceburg Public Library
Laugh Lines
Have you heard the joke about the priest, the rabbi, and the minister who walk into a bar? The bartender says, "Is this a joke?"
May 13, 2026 at Lawrenceburg Public Library
Whimsical Sourdough
Judy, with Whimsical Sourdough, will teach participants all about beginning sourdough. There will also be different varieties of sourdough to taste!
May 13, 2026 at North Dearborn Branch Library

Gov. Braun Signs Bill to Keep Cell Phone Distractions Out of Indiana Schools

Under SEA 78, Indiana schools will be required to update their wireless communication device policies to limit student use of personal devices during the school day.

Dearborn Retired Teachers Meet, Embrace Environmentalism

The group’s next meeting will be June 16 at 5:00 at Greendale Middle School.

Chip Seal Operations Planned on State Road 46 in Dearborn and Ripley Counties

Work is expected to take up to three days, weather permitting.