Wisconsin dropped from 12th to 17th in the 2008 edition of America's Health Rankings, which ranks each state based on its overall health quality.
The United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and the Partnership for Prevention conducted the study that was released Wednesday.
In 2007, Wisconsin was ranked 12th in the nation based on the state's clinical care, public health policy, environment and the personal behaviors of Wisconsin residents.
Why Wisconsin has dropped is not that we had a decline in measures but that we haven't had any progress,"" said Sarah Van Orman, executive director of University Health Services.
According to Scott Becher, spokesperson for state Rep. Steve Wieckert, R-Appleton, the state Assembly will be looking at reforming Wisconsin's health policy, particularly in regard to childhood obesity, in January. Since 1990, the prevalence of obesity in the state increased by 124 percent.
About 20 percent of the adult population in Wisconsin falls into the category of binge drinkers, according to the study. Becher noted there has been significant coverage about Wisconsin's culture ""as it relates to alcohol"" over the past six months.
""There's been a concerted effort to eliminate '¦ basically the kind of atmosphere that causes binge drinking to develop,"" Becher said. ""UW-Madison has been very active on that.""
Van Orman said the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health will begin a project in January to examine drinking in Wisconsin.
The study indicated Wisconsin's rate of uninsured has decreased to 8.5 percent.
According to Becher, Wisconsin has one of the lowest rates of uninsured residents, helped by Gov. Jim Doyle's Badger Care Plus, a plan that grants health insurance to all Wisconsin children.
Other areas of improvement in Wisconsin health include a decrease in smoking prevalence to 6 percent as well as an overall decrease in occupational fatalities.
""Wisconsin has always tried to be a leader in health care and will continue to be a leader in health care,"" Becher said.
