Americans Living Longer, but Also Living Sicker

The good news: A new report shows that Americans are living longer. The bad news: They're doing so while suffering from more chronic illnesses. The 2012 America's Health Rankings find that, while there are fewer heart disease and cancer deaths, there are more people living with obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, USA Today reports.

Americans "are living longer, sicker," says a rep from one nonprofit that co-sponsors the report. One possible contributing factor? More than 26% of Americans are sedentary, meaning they haven't engaged in any physical activity other than work for a month. And almost 28% of adults are obese, while nearly 31% have high blood pressure. The healthiest state, for the sixth year running: Vermont. (More longevity stories.)