- Utah ranks 10th in health, with Idaho first, despite rising obesity rates, according to a compilation of data from government organizations.
- CDC data shows Utah's obesity rate increased 25.3% over the past decade.
- Utahns made it into the Top 10 based on its high ratings for physical activity and low alcohol consumption.
SALT LAKE CITY — Are Utahns less healthy than we think? Utah residents report they are active and healthy, compared to other states, but data also show that obesity among Utahns is getting worse.
In a 2024 self-reporting survey pulled together with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Utahns rated themselves healthier than residents of most other states in the country.
The survey published by KFF, a health policy organization, said 18.8% of Utahns reported they were in excellent health, more than any other state but less than Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. An additional 33.1% reported being in "very good" health. Only Vermont and New Hampshire had a higher percentage of people in these two categories than Utah.
But data from the CDC also shows Utah has a 30.2% obesity rate, which is getting worse — with a 25.3% difference over the last 10 years.
NiceRx recently rated Utah 10th on its list of healthiest U.S. states, with its neighbors Idaho and Colorado ranking first and third, respectively. The score factors in obesity and activity rates, along with alcohol consumption, fitness facilities and searches for weight loss medications.
The company sells weight-loss medication, but its rankings were based entirely on data from the CDC and other government agencies.
Utah's obesity rate—at 25.3%—is significantly higher than that of the other states ranked among the Top 10 healthiest in the study. Idaho experienced a 4.7% increase over 10 years, and each of the other states on the list increased by between 12% and 18%.
NiceRx reported that people in the U.S. are increasingly reporting they use fitness apps, but that is not causing obesity rates to fall.
In Utah, 18.20% of people are physically inactive, putting the state ahead of all but Colorado in physical activity. Activity level data is based on self-reported physical inactivity outside of work.
Utah did top one category — residents of Utah drink the least amount of alcohol, based on data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The study said cutting out alcohol can help people be healthier by decreasing the risk of health problems and decreasing appetite.
