Healthiest U.S. states

For the second straight year, Vermont reigns as the healthiest state in America, according to a report issued by the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association, and the Partnership for Prevention advocacy group.

In announcing its 19th annual findings, the group also cited Louisiana as the least healthy state, a distinction accorded Mississippi in 2007.

The overall health of Americans remained static for a fourth year, according to the report, which weighs such factors as binge drinking, health insurance coverage, air pollution, infectious disease rates, crime levels and immunization coverage.

Southern states tended to fare poorly in the rankings, as the report claims the region has some of the highest rates of obesity, which contributes to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancer, as well as high rates of smoking, which causes cancer, lung disease, heart disease and other problems.

Here are the Top 10:

1. Vermont
2. Hawaii
3. New Hampshire
4. Minnesota
5. Utah
6. Massachusetts
7. Connecticut
8. Idaho
9. Maine
10. Washington

For more information, visit americashealthrankings.org.