Dakotas Lead in Health, Well-Being

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota leads the nation for well-being and South Dakota is second.

That's according to a survey of 178,000 Americans nationwide that takes a look at the physical and emotional health of the nation.

North Dakota tops the 2012 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index with an overall score of 70.4 out of a possible 100. South Dakota scored an even 70.

Hawaii had held the top spot the four previous years.

North Dakota had been among the top 10 well-being states from 2009 to 2011 but slipped off the list in 2012. South Dakota was among the top 10 in well-being for the first time since 2010.

West Virginia and Kentucky had the two lowest well-being scores in 2013, for the fifth year in a row.