Report: Louisiana ranked most unhealthy state in 2018

(WAFB) - A health alert that probably won’t be a surprise to many of us in the South.

Louisiana comes in dead last in a new report looking at the healthiest states in 2018. The report from the United Health Foundation looked at factors such as obesity, tobacco use and inactivity.

Children in poverty and a “high prevalence” of mental distress are some of Louisiana’s biggest health challenges, according to the report. Despite these challenges for the state, Louisiana has a high number of mental health providers. The state averages 271.9 providers per 100,000 population, compared with 234.7 per 100,000 nationally.

Louisiana also has a high HPV immunization coverage compared to the national average.

The study cited Hawaii as the healthiest state. It regained its title of healthiest state after dropping to No. 2 in 2017.

Click here to read the full report.

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