A look at Louisiana’s big, fat future: 62% obesity in 2030

Louisiana is already the second-fattest state in the nation by obesity rate— which stood at 33.4% in 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—and a new report says it’s fixing to get a whole lot fatter. By 2030, Louisiana’s adult obesity rate is projected to nearly double to 62.1%, according to “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2012,” a report released today by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. According to the report, Louisiana is one of 13 states that could see its adult obesity rate exceed 60% by 2030, if annual increases continue on their current trajectory. At the same time, 39 states could have rates above 50%, and all 50 states could have rates above 44%. Mississippi—which currently has the highest obesity rate at 34.9%—is projected to hold on to its national heavyweight title through 2030, when more than two-thirds of its populace, a staggering 66.7%, are projected to be obese. Colorado is projected to have the lowest obesity rate in 2030: 44.8%. You can check out The Associated Press’s coverage of the report here; and access the complete report here.