Louisiana's obesity rate hit 39.2% in 2024
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Louisiana had the nation's third-highest obesity rate in 2024, a new report says.
Why it matters: Obesity is tied to several health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, COVID-19 complications and more.
- Plus, it's expensive. Studies have linked obesity to hundreds of billions of dollars in increased annual medical costs.
Zoom in: Louisiana had a 39.2% obesity rate in 2024, according to a new "State of Obesity" report from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Trust for America's Health (TFAH).
- That's up from 35.9% in 2019.
The big picture: That jump comes despite a slight slowdown in the nation's climbing obesity rate, the data shows.
- Fewer states had adult obesity rates at or above 35% as of last year, which was the first decrease in that statistic since states started crossing that threshold in 2013, TFAH says.
The intrigue: That's possibly thanks to new anti-obesity drugs, though Louisiana has had one of the highest prescribing rates for them.
- Women in particular are more likely to be prescribed those drugs, including in Louisiana.
Between the lines: Obesity is associated with certain socioeconomic factors.
- Black and Hispanic Americans have higher rates than other groups, for example.
- Obesity is also more prevalent in low-income households than high-income households, and Louisiana households in particular tend to struggle with everyday expenses, data shows.