How healthy is living in District of Columbia?
The District of Columbia is not rated by the annual United Health Foundation ranking that identifies the healthiest states because its highly urban nature makes it distinctively unique from the states. However, the foundation does include data about the the District of Columbia. The good news: • By the numbers, the District actually fared well in eight of the 22 categories measured – and would have ranked among the top 10 states in six categories. • In comparison to the states, D.C.’s prevalence of obesity was low enough to have earned it a #6 ranking. • The District would have earned a #8 ranking for number of poor mental health days per month and #9 for poor physical health days per month. • When it came to health insurance coverage, the District did better than average, with 10.5 percent uninsured, compared to 15.5 percent nationally. That was a decrease over the previous year. • The percentage of the District’s children in poverty decreased slightly, from 31.8 percent in 2007 to 29
