Louisiana State Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Profile

Many American communities lack environments that could support healthy diets and regular physical activity. Healthy dietary and physical activity practices can lower the risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.^1,2

In addition, excess calorie intake and physical inactivity contribute to obesity, which is associated with some of the leading preventable chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Among adults, the medical costs associated with obesity are an estimated $147 billion.^1,2,3

Public health approaches can help make healthy options available, accessible, and affordable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) supports the nation to establish sustainable programs to improve dietary quality, increase physical activity, and reduce obesity and overweight. DNPAO funds and works with state health departments through a cooperative agreement (State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health program).

This profile highlights data on dietary quality, physical activity, and obesity in Louisiana and select activities funded with this cooperative agreement. For more information about CDC’s work to support healthy eating and physical activity, please see the DNPAO website.

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Population Statistics

Estimated Population of Louisiana: 4,670,724⁴

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Adult Statistics

Dietary Behaviors⁵

• 47.5% of adults reported consuming fruit less than one time daily.
• 32.7% of adults reported consuming vegetables less than one time daily.

Physical Activity⁵

• 45.1% of adults achieved the equivalent of at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week.

Overweight and Obesity⁵

• 34.1% of adults were overweight.
• 34.9% of adults had obesity.

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Adolescent Statistics

Overweight and Obesity⁵

• 16.4% of adolescents were overweight.
• 13.5% of adolescents had obesity.

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Child Statistics

Breastfeeding⁵

• 59.5% of infants were ever breastfed.
• 28.3% of infants were breastfed for at least 6 months.

Overweight and Obesity⁵

• 15.2% of children aged 2 to 4 years in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program were overweight.
• 13.8% of children aged 2 to 4 years in WIC had obesity.

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State Activities

Louisiana worked on the following select activities during the first 2 years of the State Public Health Actions program.

• Promoted the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) and provided technical assistance (TA) in 51 early care and education (ECE) centers that reach 2,200 children to improve nutrition and physical activity standards in their ECE centers.
• Administered a Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) survey at a CCHC training and to ECE stakeholders, NAP SACC Consultants, the Louisiana Department of Education, and the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency. The survey will inform the TA and professional development priorities related to nutrition and physical activity standards.
• Partnered with the state’s Randolph Sheppard Program to implement healthy vending in state agencies. The initiative is being piloted in one state agency and will expand to additional agencies over the next few years.

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