The state saw one-year increases across the board when it came to overall percentage of smokers (19.3%), binge drinkers (15%), and the obese (28.6%). On the plus side, the number of deaths related to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and general 'premature' causes slightly decreased.
On a macro level, it appears that Texas is shedding smokers (down from 30.6% overall in 1990) but fast becoming overweight — the number of obese Texans has more than doubled in less than two decades. We also retained the dubious distinction of being the state with the highest rate of uninsured residents; nearly a quarter of Texans lack health insurance, a statistic that hasn't changed much over the years.
All four states that scored lower than Texas overall are in the south: Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi and, coming in last, Louisiana.
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