Reaching America’s Health Potential: A State-by-State

Look at Adult Health

Paula Braveman, University of California,

San Francisco

Gaps in Adult Health Status

Education is Linked with Health In All Racial/Ethnic Groups

Influences on How Well and How Long Adults Live

How Do States Compare?

State Snapshots: Example District of Columbia

• 38.3% of all adults reported not being in very good health (7th in the county)

• 23.6% of the most educated adults reported not being in very good health

• Gap in adult health – 14.7%

Even if the District of Columbia achieved this lower rate (23.6%) overall, its rate would still exceed the national benchmark for adult

health status

Education & Health Calculator – A Look at Two Counties

© 2008 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All rights reserved. 9

84% of adults in Arlington County have some college education.

Arlington County, VA District of Columbia

69% of adults in D.C. have some college education.

What if D.C. Had the Same Education Levels as Arlington Co.?

© 2008 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All rights reserved. 10

Use the Education Slider to see how many deaths could be averted in D.C. if education levels matched Arlington County. Move the slider to 84% and watch the mortality counter change.

What Does This Mean?

• The large majority of Americans are not as healthy as we could be – yet good health is achievable.

• When thinking about health policy, we cannot afford to look at health care alone. – This report highlights the need to focus

on education and its impact on health. – Other evidence shows that we also need

to look at other areas and their impacts on health, e.g.: early childhood development, housing, and nutrition policies.