Colorado Is The 13th Healthiest State, According To New Study

Colorado is the 13th healthiest state in the Union, according to a new study from the United Health Foundation, Partnership for Prevention and the American Public Health Association. That's down five spots from the state's 2009 ranking.

The state was hurt by a decrease the prevalence of immunization coverage for children ages 19 to 35 months from 92.1 percent in 2009 to 85.0 in 2010.

Colorado remains the thinnest state in the country with an obesity rate of 18.9%. Other factors that inflated the state's rating in the study included low levels of air pollution, a low rate of preventable hospitalizations and low rates of cancer deaths and cardiovascular deaths.

A high geographic disparity in health services within the state, as well as a high rate of binge drinking cost the state points in the study.

2010 was the 21st year in which the study, which "calls for the nation to change unhealthy behaviors" was commissioned.

Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut ranked 1-4 in the survey.