‘Washington’s an outdoor sport state’: Spike says of No. 7 health ranking

A new study conducted by the United Health Foundation found that Washington is the seventh healthiest state in America.

Spike O’Neill, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, concluded that the way local state governments handle their policies is a main contributor to the overall health of each state.

“This is an interesting trend, because I don’t want to point a political finger, but the New England states, the more liberal states, have better health overall,” Spike said. “When you look at the lower 10, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Oklahoma, a lot of it is environmental. A lot of it is socioeconomic and political as well. It’s how your local state government deals with your health care. States that didn’t buy into the Medicare expansion are the lowest 1o of the U.S. health rating.”

Spike believes Washingtonians’ approach toward the poor weather is another reason for its positive health ranking, noting that if you can get past the rainy, cold months, you will become a mainstay in the state.

“Washington’s an outdoor sport state. We have become accustomed to the seven months of wet, damp, gray, and drizzly weather,” Spike said. “If you’re going to reserve those months, not going outside until it’s nice out, you’re not going to make it in Washington.”

“Just the other day, I was at a local park, and it was raining. It was drizzling, I would say. At least 10 people were playing pickleball,” Tomlin said. “I’m like, that’s the Washington way, right there. It was cold outside, and it wasn’t the best conditions for the sport, but they were out there exercising, playing pickleball. And I was saying, yeah, those are the Washingtonians.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.