According to the 2011 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, Hawaii once again leads the nation. For the third year in a row, Hawaii was ranked number one in terms of health and well being, with a score of 70.2 out of 100. Lead research for Gallup, Daniel Witters, stated, “Hawaii is an elite well-being state. Compared to the other 49, this is a state that has a lot of things going for it.” Witters also commented that being a healthy state has many advantages. Witters added, “Increased well-being is vital to improving the physical, emotional and financial health of Americans. It is an effective predictor of health care costs, job performance and productivity.”
Specifically, Hawaii ranked #1 in the country for emotional health, which includes happiness, stress and depression. Hawaii was also #1 in the country for healthy behavior, which factored in smoking, eating and exercise habits. However, Witters did note that 23 percent of the population is obese, which is still lower the the 26.1 percent of Americans across the nation. Witters noted, “That right there gives you something to work on. While I think Hawaii is sort of the standard bearer for the nation, I think it also should be trying to set a good example as far as continuing to (strive) to improve.”
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 2-28-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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