The Healthiest State Initiative is a privately led public initiative intended to inspire Iowans and their communities throughout the state to improve their health and happiness. To achieve our goal, individuals, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, not-for-profits and the public sector will unite in a community-focused effort to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation by 2016.
To measure our progress, we will use the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index®, which tracks six areas, or “domains,” that comprise our well-being. In 2012, Iowa ranked as the 9th Healthiest State in the Nation. While this ranking puts us solidly in the top quarter of the country and is an improvement over our previous ranking of #16, we can do better.
Gallup-Healthways Methodology
Healthiest State Initiative Brochure (PDF)
The Case for Change (PDF)
Q & A