While Louisiana’s business and economic rankings continue to rise on national reports, its marks for health remain dismal. According to the United Health Foundation’s 22nd annual America’s Health Rankings, Louisiana is ranked No. 49 once again, just one spot ahead of Mississippi. It’s ranking is unchanged from last year. Among the highlights—or lowlights—of the report: While smoking in the state has declined from 24.1% to 22.1% of adults over the last 10 years, 755,000 residents still smoke. Nearly 1.1 million adults in Louisiana are obese—316,000 more individuals than a decade ago. In the past year, the percentage of children in poverty increased from 19.5% to 30.5% of persons under age 18. And in the past 10 years, diabetes increased from 6.6% to 10.3% of the adult population. You can browse the entire state rankings in an interactive format and get up to speed on just how unhealthy Louisiana is here.
La. ranks 49th in nationwide health report
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