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Ohio is one of the unhealthiest states, study says. See where it ranks

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2 years ago

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Ohio is one of the unhealthiest states, study says. See where it ranks


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Three Ohio counties were named among the unhealthiest in the country in a study released earlier this year.

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Now, Ohio takes No. 9 in the least healthy state population rankings, per a Forbes study.

Here’s why Ohio rates as one of the least healthy states in the country.

What makes Ohio one of the unhealthiest states in the U.S.?

Being healthy can allow one to participate in all activities and enjoy their life. Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that six in 10 American adults have at least one chronic disease and four in 10 have two or more.

So, what makes Ohio No. 9 in the rankings of the unhealthiest states?

The Forbes study utilized 21 metrics across three categories—disease risk factors and prevalence, substance abuse, and lifestyle habits and health outlook. Ohio had a low score in all three categories (where 100 is the worst score): 

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  • Disease Factors and Prevalence Score: 68.02
  • Substance Abuse Score: 77.53
  • Lifestyle Habits and Health Outlook: 80.89
  • Overall score: 78.38

The Buckeye State was among the 10 worst for substance abuse and lifestyle habits/health outlook, and was No. 11 for disease risk factors and prevalence.

Ohio’s relatively poor showing in the Forbes study stands as an improvement from when it ranked close to last for health in a 2021 study by the Columbus-based Health Policy Institute of Ohio.

Cuyahoga County is one of the most unhealthy counties in the country

The Forbes study also looked at 100 of the most populated counties in the US. Cuyahoga County in Ohio is No. 2 in the top five unhealthiest counties in the country, earning a score of 99.38 out of 100. 

Cuyahoga County has the highest rate of heart disease (7.2%) in the nation, putting many of its residents at risk for potentially fatal complications such as aneurysms, heart attacks, and strokes. 

Other Cuyahoga County statistics include: 

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  • 2nd highest percentage of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (8.5%)
  • 4th highest percentage of adults who have had a stroke (3.8%)
  • 4th highest percentage of adults with high blood pressure (37.3%)
  • 5th highest percentage of adults with chronic kidney disease (3.6%)
  • 6th highest percentages of adults with diagnosed diabetes (13.6%), cancer (7.5%), and adults who are current smokers (18%)

Rankings in the Midwest: Where Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan landed

Joining Ohio in the top 10 unhealthiest states are West Virginia (No. 1 overall, 100.0 score), Kentucky (No. 5, 87.46) and Indiana (No. 10, 76.37).

Michigan came in at No. 14 (63.66 score). 

Additionally, three other counties in the Midwest join Cuyahoga County in the top five least healthy counties list. Michigan takes two spots, Wayne County (No. 1) and Macomb County (No. 4), and Kentucky takes one with Jefferson County (No. 2)

Top 10 unhealthiest states

The full list of the 10 unhealthiest states in the Forbes study (with overall scores in parentheses):

  1. West Virginia (100.0)
  2. Mississippi (96.04)
  3. Tennessee (94.39)
  4. Arkansas (88.06)
  5. Kentucky (87.46)
  6. Alabama (83.70)
  7. Louisiana (82.81)
  8. Oklahoma (81.69)
  9. Ohio (78.38)
  10. Indiana (76.37)

Top 10 healthiest states 

At the other end of the spectrum, the 10 healthiest states in the US are scattered around the country (with overall scores in parentheses):

  1. Hawaii (0.00)
  2. Utah (11.34)
  3. Connecticut (13.33)
  4. Minnesota (16.16)
  5. Massachusetts (17.02)
  6. Colorado (18.67)
  7. New Jersey (19.23)
  8. New Hampshire (20.35)
  9. Washington (23.01)
  10. New York (23.04)



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Ohio

Remains of Ohio airmen killed in Iraq will be brought back March 29

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8 hours ago

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March 27, 2026

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Remains of Ohio airmen killed in Iraq will be brought back March 29


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The remains of three Ohio airmen who were killed in the crash of their KC-135 refueling plane in Iraq earlier this month will be returned this weekend, according to a family member of one of the deceased.

The airmen, identified as Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, of Wilmington, and Capt. Seth Koval, 38, of Stoutsville, will be brought back March 29 to Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base near Columbus, said Charles Simmons, Tyler’s father.

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“Tyler will have a hero’s welcome, because he is a hero,” said Charles.

The Columbus Division of Police will be involved in the funeral procession when the airmen’s remains are transferred from the airport to funeral homes, said Columbus police Sgt. James Fuqua. That will take place between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. March 29, said Fuqua.

The airmen’s remains first arrived back in the U.S. on March 18 with a dignified transfer taking place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Curtis, Angst, and Simmons were members of the 166th Air Refueling Squadron connected to the 121st Air Refueling Wing based at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.

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The airmen, as well as three other servicemembers, died on March 12 when their KC-135 tanker crashed in western Iraq during a mission in support of Operation Epic Fury in Iran. The cause of the crash, which occurred in friendly airspace, has not been publicly identified. U.S. Central Command has said the incident did not involve hostile or friendly fire, and military experts have theorized the crash may have been the result of a collision with a second KC-135 that sustained heavy damage to its tail fin but landed safely at an airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.

Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky. 



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Thousands head to Columbus for 23rd annual Home Improvement Show at Ohio Expo Center

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20 hours ago

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March 27, 2026

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Thousands head to Columbus for 23rd annual Home Improvement Show at Ohio Expo Center


COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Thousands of people are expected to head to downtown Columbus for the 23rd annual Home Improvement Show this weekend.

Organizers say visitors can find ideas for everything from small interior design projects to major renovations.

The event is being held at the Ohio Expo Center and includes seminars, exhibits and demonstrations from local and national companies.

The show begins at noon Friday and runs until 6 p.m.

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It continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Adult tickets cost $5 at the door.



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Matt Patricia sought stability in return as Ohio State football defensive coordinator

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1 day ago

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March 26, 2026

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Matt Patricia sought stability in return as Ohio State football defensive coordinator


Matt Patricia’s contract extension earlier this offseason included a pay raise that figures to make him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football this year.

But Patricia, who will make $3.75 million in guaranteed compensation as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator in 2026, also held an appreciation for his situation.

“Ohio State is such a special place, not only just the history, the tradition, the football program, the school, but the people here,” Patricia said. “Having a chance to have a little stability with my family, it’s hard when you have to move your family around, your kids and the new school and all that.”

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Before he joined Ryan Day’s staff last year, the 51-year-old Patricia had bounced around as an assistant in the NFL for much of the decade.

He spent 2021 and 2022 in a variety of roles with the New England Patriots, then a year as a defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles. He took off from coaching in 2024. The frequent relocation gave him perspective.

“We had an unbelievable experience settling into Columbus,” Patricia said. “Everybody’s been so nice and welcoming. It feels like home. It’s a big deal for us to be in a place where everybody’s happy. That’s really important.”

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Patricia had a significant impact on the Buckeyes in his first year replacing Jim Knowles. Despite heavy roster attrition following their national championship season, he kept the defense atop the Football Bowl Subdivision. For the second straight season, no one allowed fewer points than Ohio State.

The 9.3 points per game allowed by the Buckeyes were the fewest by any defense since Alabama in 2011.

The success made Patricia a hot commodity on the coaching market, rebuilding his reputation as a sharp and creative football mind only a decade removed from his tenure as a Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator for the Patriots. He was a finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant.

Patricia said he heard about opportunities in the NFL and elsewhere across the college football landscape, though none of them would pry him away from Ohio State.

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“It wasn’t necessarily something where you’re looking to leave,” Patricia said, “but you do have to listen when those things come up. I’m just glad everything worked out.”

His challenge in his second season mirrors his previous one, as the Buckeyes are again managing the loss of eight starters on defense.

But unlike 2025, they have fewer returning pieces, relying on a larger class of transfers to help fill the holes on the depth chart.

“With as much coming into the program for the first time, not only are you trying to catch them up on the football scheme, but you’re also trying to catch them up on everything else,” Patricia said. “This is how we work, this is how we do things, this is the standard we’re looking for, this is how we practice, this is how we prepare, this is how we go to school. That has to be also taught. It becomes a lot, but that’s why you bring in the right guys that have the mental makeup to do all that.”

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.

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