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Study: Florida 34th Healthiest State

FLORIDA (CBSMiami) – Sunshine State residents are doing anything but take in the sunshine, according to a new health study.

The South Florida Business Journal reports Florida ranked 34th, as it did last year, in a state-by-state health study conducted by the United Health Foundation.

About 4 million adults lead an inactive lifestyle, meaning they rarely get physical activity outside of work, the study found.

The study also pointed out that nearly 27 percent, or about 4 million, of Florida adults are obese.

Among the study's other unfortunate findings about Floridians: about a fifth (20.2 percent) lacked health insurance and had children in living in poverty (22.1 percent).

The state also ranked high in adults with diabetes, with about 10 percent impacted by the disorder.

The study found a bright side for Sunshine State residents: deaths from cardiovascular disease in Florida declined significantly over the past 10 years, and the state has relatively low levels of cancer deaths and air pollution.

Vermont was the state with the healthiest residents, the study concluded, while Mississippi and Louisiana tied as the least healthy states.

The South Florida Business Journal contributed to this report.

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