#Ohio

A new analysis shows Ohioans die younger than the national average, shedding light on how environment, lifestyle, and access to care shape lifespans. For Thailand, which is undergoing rapid urbanization and health transitions, Ohio’s experience offers cautious lessons and practical solutions for safeguarding population health.

A health insights platform evaluated states on health infrastructure and environmental risk. Ohio ranks poorly due to high smoking rates, air pollution, and limited access to healthy foods and fitness facilities. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Ohio’s life expectancy at birth was 74.5 years in 2021, trailing the national average and many states by several years.

A new U.S. state ranking focused on health infrastructure and environmental risks finds Ohioans are living shorter lives than residents of most states, and points to high smoking rates, poor air quality and limited access to healthy food and exercise options as key contributors. The report, compiled by healthcare staffing platform Nursa and summarized in local coverage, places Ohio among the states with the lowest life expectancy and uses measures such as number of parks and gyms, store food offerings, pollution and smoking prevalence to explain variation across states (Mahoning Matters).

A comprehensive analysis of American health outcomes reveals Ohio residents face significantly shorter lifespans than most Americans, dying approximately two years earlier than the national average. The stark findings illuminate how environmental factors, lifestyle patterns, and healthcare access combine to determine who lives longer and who faces premature death. For Thailand, currently experiencing rapid health transitions and urbanization pressures, Ohio’s struggles offer both cautionary lessons and evidence-based solutions for protecting population health.