Baton Rouge Ranks Among Top 10 Most Overweight Cities in U.S.

Four Louisiana metros land near the top of the list, highlighting health concerns in the region.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:05pm

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A new WalletHub study has ranked Baton Rouge as the 10th most overweight and obese city in the United States. The study compared the 100 most populated U.S. metro areas across several key indicators related to weight, health, and fitness. In addition to Baton Rouge, three other Louisiana cities - Lafayette, Shreveport, and New Orleans - also landed near the top of the list, underscoring the prevalence of weight-related issues in the state.

Why it matters

Obesity and overweight are growing public health concerns in the U.S., contributing to a range of chronic health conditions and imposing significant financial burdens on individuals and the healthcare system. The high rankings of Louisiana cities in this study highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve access to healthy foods, recreational opportunities, and other resources that can help address the root causes of weight-related problems in these communities.

The details

The WalletHub study looked at 19 key indicators across three dimensions: obesity and overweight, health consequences, and food and fitness. Baton Rouge ranked 10th overall, while Lafayette came in 6th, Shreveport 8th, and New Orleans 16th. Baton Rouge had the highest percentage of adults with low fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as the highest percentage of adults with high blood pressure. Shreveport had the highest percentage of adults with high cholesterol and the third highest percentage of obese adults in the country.

  • The WalletHub study was published on March 16, 2026.

The players

WalletHub

A personal finance website that conducts research and analysis on a variety of financial and economic topics.

Chip Lupo

A WalletHub analyst who commented on the findings of the study.

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What they’re saying

“Obesity is becoming more and more prevalent in the U.S., and it's costing us big time. In the most overweight and obese cities, residents often lack easy access to healthy food and recreation opportunities, so investing in those areas should help improve people's diets and exercise regimens, and reduce the financial burden overall.”

— Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

The takeaway

The high rankings of Louisiana cities in this study on overweight and obesity underscore the need for comprehensive, community-based approaches to address the root causes of these public health issues, such as improving access to healthy foods, promoting physical activity, and investing in programs and infrastructure that support healthier lifestyles.