Louisiana's Obesity Crisis and the Role of Fast-Food
While traveling through the state of Louisiana, it’s impossible not to notice the absurd number of fast-food chains lining the roads. In fact, Louisiana is home to about 3,975 fast-food restaurants. However, a recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which assessed the diets and health outcomes across all fifty states, is even more concerning.
Louisiana ranked dead last, placing fiftieth with a dismal score of 8.4 on the “Health Diet Index,” where the maximum possible score was sixty. The Louisiana Department of Health further highlights the severity of the issue, noting that nearly one in four adults in the state are considered obese.
In 2022, Louisiana was one of three states- along with Oklahoma and West Virginia- where the obesity rate among adults reached a staggering 40%.
The Nutrition Source, provided and maintained by Harvard University, has an article on how we can direct the obesity rates to decline, some of those traits include: eating mindfully, staying active, limiting screen time, getting seven hours of sleep, and taking care of yourself. While the people who live in Louisiana might not care about their overall health, or what they’re eating, it's important to advocate for a change to improve overall well-being.
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