Health Profile of West Des Moines, Iowa
West Des Moines Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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A
West Des Moines Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 81.5 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 4.9% | 5.0% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 9.4% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in West Des Moines is 81.5 years, about 2.3 years longer than the Iowa average of 79.2 years. The uninsured rate is 4.9%, lower than the Iowa average of 5.0%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 9.4% of residents, lower than the Iowa average of 13.6%.
Population by Age
Older residents
20,643 residents in West Des Moines are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 1,112 366 men · 747 women
- 75–84 2,781 1,200 men · 1,581 women
- 65–74 4,852 2,258 men · 2,595 women
- 50–64 11,896 5,863 men · 6,034 women
Younger residents
14,142 residents in West Des Moines are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 3,941 1,869 boys · 2,071 girls
- 7–12 4,199 2,134 boys · 2,065 girls
- 3–7 3,456 1,897 boys · 1,560 girls
- 0–3 2,546 1,439 boys · 1,106 girls
About 1,869 residents in West Des Moines (2.8% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 81.5 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 7.5% | 10.6% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 5.9% | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 4.6% | 7.3% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 32.2% | 37.3% | 34.3% |
The rate of heart disease in West Des Moines is about 37% lower than in Iowa. The rate of diabetes in West Des Moines is about 30% lower than in Iowa. The rate of cancer in West Des Moines is about 22% lower than in Iowa.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 12.9% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 24.4% | 20.8% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 17.1% | 25.4% | 25.1% |
The rate of sedentary lifestyle in West Des Moines is about 33% lower than in Iowa. The rate of smoking in West Des Moines is about 27% lower than in Iowa. The rate of binge drinking in West Des Moines is about 18% higher than in Iowa.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 68,606 cigarettes a day, 2.1 million a month, or 25.0 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 754,667 minutes a day and 275.5 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in West Des Moines is 81.5 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.02 lifetimes a day, or 6.43 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | West Des Moines | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.46 | 6.49 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.5 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in West Des Moines is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
West Des Moines, IA Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How West Des Moines, IA compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines, IA | 67,280 | 81.5 yrs #1/2 | 4.9% #2/2 | 32.2% #1/2 |
| Urbandale, IA | 42,731 | 81.0 yrs | 4.9% | 34.0% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, West Des Moines, Iowa has an overall health index grade of A, making it notably better than Iowa, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in West Des Moines, Iowa.
How healthy is West Des Moines, Iowa?
West Des Moines, Iowa has a Map AI Health Index grade of A, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; an A grade means residents are much healthier than the U.S. average.
What is the average lifespan in West Des Moines, Iowa?
People in West Des Moines, Iowa can expect to live 81.5 years on average, 2.3 years longer than the Iowa average of 79.2.
How many people lack health insurance in West Des Moines, Iowa?
4.9% of residents in West Des Moines, Iowa have no health insurance, about 1 in 21 people, about the same as the Iowa rate of 5.0%.
How common is obesity in West Des Moines, Iowa?
32.2% of adults in West Des Moines, Iowa are classified as obese, about 1 in 3, 5.1 points below the Iowa rate of 37.3%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in West Des Moines, Iowa go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 68,606 cigarettes a day, 2.1 million a month, or 25.0 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 754,667 minutes a day and 275.5 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in West Des Moines is 81.5 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.02 lifetimes a day, or 6.43 lifetimes a year.
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