What People Are Doing Right Healthwise in Southern States Including Louisiana
Unfortunately, the evidence reveals that southern states, including Louisiana, are characterized by poor dietary patterns and health behaviors rather than positive ones, with the "Southern dietary pattern" associated with a 56% higher risk of heart disease and 30% higher risk of stroke 1.
Documented Negative Health Patterns in the South
The available evidence primarily documents concerning health trends rather than positive behaviors:
Dietary Concerns
- The Southern dietary pattern consists of higher consumption of fried foods, added fats, organ and processed meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages 1
- In southeastern Louisiana specifically, neighborhoods with lower quality food environments (characterized by less availability of healthy foods relative to unhealthy options) show increased obesity risk 2
- Young adults in Louisiana's semirural settings show variable food consumption patterns heavily influenced by socioeconomic factors, with lower-income groups consuming more burgers/sandwiches and mixed dishes 3
Limited Positive Findings
The few positive health behaviors documented include:
Adequate vegetable consumption in some populations: Rural older adults in the South showed adequate intakes of dark green and orange vegetables, with compliance to added fat and sugar guidelines in some groups 4
Ethnic variations in fruit consumption: African Americans in Louisiana consumed more servings of fruits and 100% fruit juices compared to European Americans 3
Community-level improvements: In rural Kentucky (a neighboring southern state), community interventions led to increased fruit intake (from 2.71 to 2.94 mean servings) and vegetable intake (from 2.54 to 2.72 mean servings) over one year 5
Physical Activity Limitations
Physical activity levels remain inadequate, with rural counties facing barriers including isolation, transportation distances, and lack of facilities 6. Active individuals in Louisiana consumed more fruits/juices and fewer burgers/sandwiches than inactive individuals, but overall activity levels were not meeting recommended guidelines 3.
Critical Context
The overall diet quality of rural southern elders scored only 61.9 out of 100 on the Healthy Eating Index-2005, with fewer than 2% meeting the recommended score of 80 4. This indicates substantial room for improvement rather than highlighting successful health behaviors.