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

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

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): 

• 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: 

• 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)