If you visit Hawaii – or better yet – live in Hawaii –
you will not find the latest report from Gallup-Healthways surprising.
For the fourth year in a row, Hawaii ranks #1 in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
I have been visiting Hawaii since the 1980s and fell in love with the culture.
The minute you step off the plane, your world slows down.
And who doesn’t need that at least once in awhile?
What is the Well-Being Index?
The Well-Being Index developed by Gallup-Healthways averages six areas of well-being data in the U.S.
- Life evaluation
- Physical health
- Emotional health
- Healthy behavior
- Work environment
- Basic access
The index uses the World Health Organization’s definition of health ~
“…not only the absence of infirmity and disease but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being.”
Life evaluation combines an individual’s present life with what the individual perceives life will be in 5 years.
Physical health asks questions related to Body Mass Index (BMI), disease burden, sick days, physical pain, daily energy, history of disease and daily health experiences.
Emotional health is a composite of the individual’s responses to questions regarding daily experiences.
Healthy behavior measures lifestyle habits.
Work environment evaluates the individual’s feelings and perceptions about his or her work environment.
Basic access measures 13 categories regarding access to food, shelter,healthcare and a safe and satisfying place to live.
The Elite 5
Joining Hawaii in what the survey refers to as the elite 5, are Utah, Minnesota, Colorado, and Montana.
The elite’s well-being bliss share common characteristics.
- Residents rate their life much better today and in the future
- They demonstrate better emotional health
- Residents have much lower obesity rates
- They have much lower health risks, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or other chronic diseases
- The elite enjoy their jobs, smoke less, and exercise more
Sounds like one big happy meal.
With a top, you must have a bottom. The following five states have been in the bottom 10 every year between 2008-2012.
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- Ohio
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
What the Best Looks Like
Below is a comparison of 2011 and 2012 results for Hawaii.
The most significant jump was in Work Environment rankings.
- In 2011, Hawaii scored 44.6 out of 100 – that was 44th in state rankings
- In 2012, Hawaii scored 54.1 – good enough for 1st place
I don’t know which figure is more interesting – that Hawaii went from 44th to 1st in a year – or that a 54.1 score is #1.
No matter the results, I am more than willing to try living in Hawaii – strictly for scientific study, of course.
How about you?
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Notice of Disclaimer –Cathy Miller is not an attorney or health care provider and cannot provide legal or health care advice. The information provided is for your general background only, and is not intended to constitute legal or health care advice as to your specific circumstances. We recommend you review legislation with legal counsel and visit your physician for health care issues.
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