Jan 12, 2026 - Health
Louisiana is least healthy state, United Health Foundation report says
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Louisiana ranked dead last in a new state-by-state health report card out last week from the United Health Foundation.
Why it matters: America's Health Rankings synthesize 99 measures of health and well-being, drawn from 31 data sources, to produce a "comprehensive portrait of health at both the national and state levels."
While the Bayou State didn't measure up, the report found an array of encouraging signs for the U.S. more broadly.
- Rates for premature death, drug deaths, firearm deaths and homicides all fell. Rates of cancer screenings, physical activity and volunteerism all increased.
- On the other hand, rates of e-cigarette use and multiple chronic conditions increased. Homelessness and unemployment — socioeconomic factors that help determine the nation's health — rose.
Read the full report