The country's overall health is improving based on the 2013 America's Health Rankings report, USA Today reported. Not everything is on the rise, but the investigation revealed more strengths than weaknesses as well as the healthiest state of them all: Hawaii.

The 24-year old report now consists of 29 measures; in 2013, the U.S. achieved gains in 20, losses in 8, and 1 category stayed the same. From last year's report to this year's, the U.S. experienced the greatest positive change in regards to binge drinking, smoking, physical inactivity, pertussis (an infection disease), and premature death. For example, 19.6 percent of adults now smoke regularly compared to 21.2 percent in 2012. Binge drinking went from 18.3 percent per month to 16.9 percent.

The most significant decline in health from this year to last is an eight percent rise in instances of chlamydia, which is now diagnosed 457.6 times per 100,000 individuals, according to the report.

Long term signs of positive health growth include preventable hospitalizations, workplace fatalities, air pollution, infant mortality, graduation rate, premature death, cardiovascular disease, cancer deaths, and violent crimes. For two examples, cancer deaths declined by 3 percent since 1990; violent crimes are now 36 percent lower from twenty years ago.

The United States continues to be challenged by children in poverty, low birth weights, immunization coverage for children, and lack of health insurance. The percentage of children in poverty (now 21.3 percent) hasn't been below 20 for four years and was once 15.3 percent in 2002. Low birth weights have yet to reach the 7 percent mark from 1990.  

So what makes Hawaii so healthy? Low levels of smoking, obesity, and preventable hospitalizations. The state's weaknesses are binge drinking, salmonella infections, and a low graduation rate. Though nearly 50 percent of responders with at least a high school graduation reported "good to excellent health," just under 30 percent of those without a high school degree reported the same levels of quality health, according to the report. 

Hawaii had a decent lead over the next state. In a scoring system that somewhat resembled the BCS, the sunshine state finished with a .919 to Vermont's .869. Hawaii was unique in that it was the only warm weather state to rank in the top 25 (California was 21 but it has a wide variety of weather). Arizona was next at 28.