While health challenges are rising for people around the world, the state of Mississippi is one of the worst communities when it comes to heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Mississippi is developing a reputation for rising from the bottom. As a state, it has already done so in education and economics.
RISING IN EDUCATION
As a state, Mississippi was ranked No. 49 in the nation for overall 4th grade reading scores and No. 50 for 4th grade math scores. Today Mississippi’s economically disadvantaged 4th graders rank No. 1 in the nation among their peers in reading and No. 2 for math.
RISING IN ECONOMICS
Mississippi is now gaining noteriety in economic development reaching a record high in non-farm income, attracting $41B in investments, and multiple large development projects choosing to locate in the state.
RISING IN HEALTH
Mississippi currently ranks among the poorest in the states for core health metrics including blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes.
Current Mississippi Health Rankings
National Rank | Mississippi Pop % | |
High Blood Pressure | 49th-50th worst | 43.9% vs 32.4% national avg |
High Cholesterol | fifth-highest | 38.3% |
Heart Disease | Third-highest heart disease death rate, at 287 per 100,000 residents | |
Diabetes | 47th worst | 17% |
- Sources: CDC, America’s Health Ratings, WorldHealth.net
Mississippians are known for comfort food diets high in saturated fats and salt. These conditions, especially when coupled with increased sedentary habits trending in western culture today, create a perfect environment for specific bad health conditions to thrive. And, much of it is reversible.
This is an opportunity for Mississippi to step up for healthier living.
The Mighty Mississippi Health Challenge is bringing healthier eating and movement to the Delta.
In 2025 and 2026, the Mighty Mississippi Health Challenge will be hosting a series of campaigns in coordination with community movements to bring healthier living to Mississippi. Initaitves include the publishing of a Delta Cookbook that maintains southern flare and flavor and traditional recipes with healthier ingredients, an app to support the effort, and a documentary of the journey.
There will be cash prizes, tastings, and celebrity events to carry the adventure forward in a community-rich environment.
In Mississippi, considered one of the nations most giving states, people have a reputation for standing together and taking care of their own and others. For just over a year, we will be building a new Mississppi story.
This is another opportunity for Mississippi to rise up and shake the stigma and the ranking of a bottom ranked state.
