So many poor showings by Oklahoma in state rankings have come before that it seems futile to point out that once again Oklahomans rank very low in overall health.
In the latest survey of health in the nation, Oklahoma ranked 49, with only Mississippi having worse overall health statistics.
But despite how defeated we may feel here, we must not stop encouraging Oklahomans to live healthier lives. You may think your personal health and habits affect only you, but they also affect your family and the type and cost of care that your community has to offer.
The survey listed high rates of smoking, obesity, preventable hospitalizations, sick days and heart disease deaths as Oklahoma’s biggest challenges. The state’s health commissioner said changing those statistics must begin with individuals making behavioral changes.
We second that. Most of us need to shape up.
