Unhealthy Habits

Living a clean and healthy life is many people’s goal, replacing unhealthy lifestyle choices with positive habits for better personal well-being. However, we all have our vices, and some may have more than others. Poor lifestyle choices and bad habits can be used as a crutch in place of seeking professional help, meaning people may not be receiving the appropriate prescription drugs to treat underlying conditions.

There are many types of unhealthy habits we can pick up without noticing, such as a lack of exercise or not eating enough fruit and vegetables to maintain a healthy diet. While these are easily remedied with small lifestyle changes, other unhealthy habits can be more difficult to turn around.

With so many unhealthy habits rife in the United States, we wanted to highlight the states that are most affected by some of the most prominent examples that can negatively affect your mental and physical health.

While we all might benefit from shedding a few bad habits to live healthier lives, this is more true in some parts of the country than others. Here you can see the states most affected by unhealthy bad habits.

1. Missouri
   Unhealthy habit score: 7.68
   
   Missouri has the most unhealthy habits, earning an overall score of 7.68 out of 10. Despite this high score, Missouri didn’t record a top-three score for any individual factor, but still scored highly across the board. The state’s biggest unhealthy habit is cigarette smoking, recording the fourth-highest rate at 23.5% of adults. The state’s second most prominent bad habit is adult binge drinking, tying for the sixth-highest rate of 21% alongside Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

2. Mississippi
   Unhealthy habit score: 7.07
   
   Mississippi has the second-most unhealthy habits, resulting in an overall score of 7.07. This Southern state has the highest percentage of physically inactive adults, at 33.2%. Mississippi also performed particularly poorly when it came to gambling, recording the second-highest rate of searches for gambling and popular gambling websites, at 79,399 per 100,000 people over the last year.

3. Ohio & West Virginia
   Unhealthy habit score: 6.94
   
   

   Ohio and West Virginia jointly take third place with overall unhealthy habit scores of 6.94. Ohio’s biggest bad habit is not getting enough sleep, affecting 39.9% of the state’s population, while it also records the sixth worst scores for cigarette smoking and the number of fast food restaurants, relative to population.

   West Virginia’s biggest vice is cigarette smoking, with 28.2% of adults smoking. It also recorded the second-highest rate of insufficient sleep among adults, at 42.6%. The striking similarities between the bad habits of these two states suggest considerable shared cultural norms, which are supported by the 277 miles of shared border.

While some states are rife with bad habits, others have much better records for avoiding these unhealthy behaviors. These differences can be the result of a range of factors, such as cultural, economic, and religious differences. With this in mind, here are the states least affected by unhealthy bad habits.

1. Washington
   Unhealthy habit score: 2.09
   
   Washington is the state with the fewest bad habits, recording an unhealthy habit score of 2.09. The state ranked third best for two habits, with 71% of people aged 15+ using social media and just 18.4% of adults being physically inactive. To put these figures into perspective, Iowa saw 81% of residents using social media and Mississippi has 33% of people physically inactive. Despite Washington’s strong performance across most factors, the state recorded the fifth-highest rate of illicit drug use among adults, at 24.0%.
2. Utah
   Unhealthy habit score: 2.71
   
   

   Utah recorded the second-lowest unhealthy habit score of 2.71. The state saw the lowest rates of binge drinking and smoking among adults, at 13% and 10.6%, respectively. These rates are likely so low because of the prominence of the Church of Latter-day Saints, which counts approximately 42% of Utah's population as members[1] and teaches against the consumption of alcohol and tobacco products. 

   Utah’s biggest bad habit is heavy social media use, with 78.7% of people aged 15+ being active on at least one platform, but the state performs very well on most other factors. 

3. Idaho
   Unhealthy habit score: 3.11
   
   

   Idaho has the third-lowest unhealthy habit score of 3.11. The state records low scores for most bad habits, performing particularly well for having low searches for gambling online, with just 29,534 searches per 100,000 people over the last year. This low rate of interest could reflect the restricted legality of gambling in Idaho, with certain exceptions. 

   The most prominent unhealthy habit in the state is an unhealthy diet, with just 5.4% of adults consuming at least two fruits and three vegetables per day, the sixth-lowest rate in the country.

Hawaii has the highest proportion of people not getting enough sleep, at 45.9%, meaning almost half of all adults in the island state are sleep-deprived. This is closely followed by West Virginia, with 42.6% getting insufficient sleep, while Alabama comes third, with 41.4% of people affected. Vermont is the state with the best sleep, with just 30% of adults not getting enough.

Lack of sleep can lead to a range of health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke, as well as being linked to mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and severe mood swings. Insufficient sleep also leads to increased weight gain and often leaves people drowsy, making day-to-day tasks more difficult, including driving, which can be dangerous to yourself and others.

Iowa has the highest proportion of people aged 15+ who are active on social media, at 81.1%. South Dakota follows in second place with 81.0%, while Nebraska takes third place with 80.9%. Hawaii has the lowest percentage of people using social media, at 65.4%.

Social media has been shown to be an incredibly addictive technology, providing constant dopamine hits and completely absorbing users. It’s not uncommon for users to spend hours scrolling various social media apps without realizing how much time has passed. As well as being addictive, social media also promotes unrealistic life expectations and can lead to depression and anxiety, with people comparing their own lives to the carefully crafted image created by celebrities and influencers.

Mississippi has the highest rate of adult physical inactivity at 33.2%. This is followed by Kentucky in second place with 32.5%, and Arkansas in third place with 31.1%. Colorado has the lowest rate of physical inactivity, affecting just 17.7% of adults in the state.

Modern life has led to many people leading sedentary and physically inactive lives, with much of their work and entertainment being delivered digitally. With the rise of next-day delivery, takeout apps, and working from home, staying home and not moving about is becoming increasingly common. Physical inactivity can lead to various physical and mental health problems, so scheduling even a small amount of time for some form of exercise can do wonders for your personal well-being.

Hawaii has the highest number of fast-food restaurants relative to the resident population, with 103.6 per 100,000 people. This is followed by Louisiana, with 87.7, and Alabama, with 86.5. Arizona has the lowest number of fast food restaurants per 100,000 people at 57.3.

Fast food often contains high levels of salt, sugar, fat, and other additives but very low nutritional value. Consuming high volumes of fast food can be dangerous for your health, leading to a greater risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. However, occasional consumption of fast food as part of a varied and balanced diet poses little risk to your health, so practicing moderation can allow you to enjoy these restaurants while staying healthy.

Oklahoma has the lowest fruit and vegetable consumption rate in the country, with just 3.8% of adults consuming at least two fruits and three vegetables per day. Mississippi takes second place, with just 4.1% of adults consuming enough fruit and vegetables, while Alabama takes third place with 4.8%.

Eating enough fruit and vegetables is incredibly important in maintaining a healthy diet and getting all of the nutrients your body needs. Very low fruit and vegetable consumption over long periods can lead to an increased risk of multiple health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Two neighboring states, Montana and North Dakota, share the top spot for the highest rate of adults who binge drink at 24%. This is closely followed by Iowa, where 23% of adults have picked up this habit. Binge drinking is least common in Utah, only affecting 13% of adults. However, five states, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Maryland, and Kentucky, follow closely behind, with just 14% of adults engaging in binge drinking.

Like many countries around the world, alcohol has a place in American culture when consumed responsibly. However, binge drinking means consuming an excessive amount of alcohol over a short period, which can be damaging to your health, cause poor judgment and dangerous behaviors, and can lead to alcoholism if practiced regularly.

The state with the highest rate of illicit drug use is Vermont, with 27.5% of adults reported to have taken some form of illicit drug in the past month at the time the data was collected. Oregon has the second-highest rate of illicit drug use at 25.4%, while New Mexico takes third place with 24.6%. Texas has the lowest rate of illicit drug use at 10.9%, which could be due to the state’s strict anti-drug laws acting as a deterrent. 

Illicit drugs can pose all manner of health risks to those who take them, with many substances being extremely addictive. Illicit drugs are not regulated, so there’s no telling how they have been made or what dangerous additives have made their way into them, increasing their risk. Additionally, those who take illicit drugs run the risk of fines, being arrested, and serving jail time, depending on the state you live in and the substance in question, so it’s better to keep these substances out of your life altogether.

West Virginia has the highest rate of cigarette smoking among people aged 18+, standing at 28.2%. Kentucky follows in second place with a smoking rate of 25.0%, while Louisiana takes third place with 23.8%. Utah has the lowest rate of cigarette smoking at 10.6%, closely followed by California, where 11.0% of adults smoke.

It’s widely known that cigarettes are addictive and increase your risk of many illnesses, including lung and throat cancer. Alongside the potential health risks, people who smoke have a reduced sense of smell and taste, stopping them from enjoying life to the fullest. Second-hand smoke also affects the health of your friends, family, and loved ones, while the smell of cigarettes can be unpleasant for people who don’t smoke.

People in Vermont made the most searches for gambling on Google over the last year, with 184,217 searches per 100,000 people. This is almost 2 searches per person and is far higher than second place Mississippi, where there were 79,399 searches per 100,000. Alabama takes third place, with 75,472 searches per 100,000 people, while Alaska saw the lowest interest in gambling online, with just 15,427 searches per 100,000.

Gambling is a bad habit that can quickly spiral out of control if you’re not careful. Gambling is an addictive activity with high amounts of risk that leaves many people destitute and unable to afford necessities. The risks of gambling don’t just affect the gambler but also their family, friends, and dependants. However, the occasional bet can be enjoyable without it becoming a habit, so always play within your means and gamble responsibly.

We wanted to explore some of the most common bad habits in the United States that can negatively impact people’s health and well-being, identifying which states have the most bad habits overall.

To do this, we collected the following data for each state:

• The age-adjusted prevalence of insufficient sleep among adults in 2022, sourced from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
• The proportion of people aged 15+ who use social media platforms, as of Nov 2023, sourced from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Data Explorer.
• The prevalence of self-reported physical inactivity among adults from 2017 to 2020, sourced from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
• The number of limited-service (fast food) restaurants in 2021, sourced from Statista.
• The percentage of adults who reported consuming two or more fruits and three or more vegetables daily, sourced from United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings.
• The percentage of adults who binge drink according to the CDC’s 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), sourced via the CDC’s State Fact Sheets for alcohol use.
• The number of people aged 18+ who had used cigarettes in the past month, recorded from 2021 to 2022, in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
• The number of people aged 18+ who had used illicit drugs in the past month, recorded from 2021 to 2022, in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).
• The number of Google searches for gambling topics and popular gambling websites from November 2023 to October 2024, sourced via Google’s Keyword Planner. This data was normalized to a rate of searches per 100,000 people using 2023 population data from the United States Census Bureau. Popular gambling websites were sourced from Semrush using their October 2024 data.

Each state’s scores across all factors were combined into a single “Unhealthy Habit Score”, allowing us to rank all 50 U.S. states and reveal those with the most and fewest bad habits.

There was no data for fruit and vegetable consumption in Florida, or for adult physical inactivity in New Jersey, so the final scores for these states were calculated using the remaining eight factors.

We then also revealed the states where each bad habit was most and least prominent.

[1] https://religionnews.com/2023/12/28/study-utah-is-no-longer-a-majority-mormon-state/