How Healthy is South Carolina?

How does the state of South Carolina rank in health and wellness measures?  Let us take a look at some of the most recent national data.

We don’t recommend reading this article if you are at McDonald’s, Arby’s, Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell or any of the other lobbyists for cholesterol or anti-wellness campaigning.

These and many other eateries along with our lifestyle are contributing to a realization that we have some maturing to do when it comes to wellness and health.

Before we begin, let us dissect some of our recent breakfast choices:

• Large Frozen Coolatta with cream at Dunkin Donuts – 800 Calories / 47 Grams of Fat / 160 MG of Cholesterol
• Snickerdoodle Croissant Donut at Dunkin Donuts – 420 Calories / 19 Grams of Fat / 25 MG of Cholesterol
• Steak, Egg and Cheese Bagel at McDonald’s – 650 Calories / 33 Grams of Fat / 285 MG of Cholesterol
• McCafe Large White Hot Chocolate at McDonald’s – 520 Calories / 19 Grams of Fat / 60 MG of Cholesterol
• Breakfast Crunch Wrap – Sausage at Taco Bell – 710 Calories / 47 Grams of Fat / 135 MG of Cholesterol
• Grande Scrambler Burrito – Sausage at Taco Bell – 690 Calories / 39 Grams of Fat / 200 MG of Cholesterol

Dunkin Donuts Nutritional Information

McDonalds Nutritional Information

Taco Bell Nutritional Information

And all this before 7:00 AM for most…

Back to the discussion at hand, the health of South Carolina.  South Carolina current ranks at 42nd in the nation or the bottom 16% according to Americas Health Rankings.

South Carolina fares better among seniors ranking at 36th in the United States.

Ranking Category Breakdowns:

• Since 1990, South Carolina’s lowest overall ranking has been 41 and highest 48
• Violent Crime Ranking – 45th
• Rate and Amount of Smoking – 43rd
• Obesity – 41st
• High School Graduation Rates – 36th
• Excessive Drinking – 11th
• Diabetes – 43rd
• Children in Poverty – 33rd
• Cancer Deaths – 38th
• Air Pollution – 29th
• Infectious Disease – 44th

Some key successes for health in the state are high immunization among children and low levels of excessive drinking.  Our challenge areas are high violence, high levels of smoking and immunizations among adolescents and adults.