Which states have the worst eating habits?

Louisiana tops the list with the worst eating habits in the United States with the highest density of fast food chains and a significant intake of added sugars, contributing to an obesity rate of 40.1%, per a FoodLabelMaker study.

Mississippi and Kentucky follow closely, with high rates of obesity and sugar consumption, indicating dietary challenges and a heavy reliance on fast food options.

Delaware's high alcohol consumption, combined with a high number of fast food chains, places it among the states with the least healthy eating patterns.

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FoodLabelMaker, a nutrition label-making company has analyzed dietary and lifestyle data across U.S. states to identify those with the worst eating habits. The study focused on key metrics such as obesity rates, the number of fast food chains per capita, estimated daily intake of added sugars and alcohol consumption per capita. 

The data was sourced from various public health databases, including the CDC for obesity rates, state and local databases, nutritional surveys, and alcohol consumption statistics from population reviews.

Key findings:

• Louisiana ranks 1st for poor eating habits, earning a composite score of 98.99, the highest in the study. With an obesity rate of 40.1%, the state also has the highest concentration of fast food chains, at 8.83 per 10,000 people. The average daily intake of added sugars is 17.6 teaspoons, paired with an alcohol consumption of 2.59 gallons per capita.
• Mississippi is in 2nd place, with an obesity rate of 39.5% and 2,428 fast-food chains. The average added sugar intake is 20.0 teaspoons per day, which is among the highest in the country, and alcohol consumption per capita is 2.39 gallons, contributing to a composite score of 97.98.
• Kentucky ranks 3rd, with a composite score of 95.96. The state’s obesity rate is 37.7%, and it hosts 3,488 fast-food restaurants. Kentucky leads the country in daily sugar intake, with residents consuming an average of 21.2 teaspoons of added sugars.
• Delaware, in 4th place, has an obesity rate of 37.9% and 771 fast-food chains, or 7.38 chains per 10,000 people. The state's average intake of added sugars is 16.2 teaspoons daily, and alcohol consumption per capita is 4.01 gallons, the highest among all states listed, leading to a composite score of 93.94.
• Ohio is 5th on the list, with an obesity rate of 38.1% and the highest total number of fast food chains (9,948). The average daily intake of added sugars is 17.6 teaspoons, while per capita alcohol consumption is 2.12 gallons. Ohio's composite score is 91.92.
• West Virginia comes in 6th, holding the highest obesity rate at 41% and an accumulative score of 89.90. The state has 1,398 fast-food chains. Residents consume an average of 19.1 teaspoons of added sugars daily and 1.82 gallons of alcohol per capita.

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• Alabama ranks 7th with a composite score of 87.88. The state’s obesity rate is 38.3%, and it has 4,411 fast food outlets, making it the third-highest in terms of fast food density. Daily added sugar consumption averages 18.7 teaspoons, with alcohol consumption at 2.08 gallons per capita.
• In 8th place is Iowa, where the composite score is 85.86. The state’s obesity rate is 37.4%, and it has 2,168 fast-food restaurants—the lowest density per capita in the study. Residents consume 17.7 teaspoons of added sugars each day, paired with 2.34 gallons of alcohol per capita.
• Tennessee ranks 9th with a composite score of 83.84. The state has 5,312 fast food locations, equaling 7.37 per 10,000 residents. The average daily added sugar intake is 18.5 teaspoons, and alcohol consumption stands at 2.3 gallons per person.
• South Dakota rounds out the top 10, earning a composite score of 81.82. The state has an obesity rate of 36.8% and 579 fast-food chains, one of the lowest densities in the study. Residents consume 18.7 teaspoons of added sugars daily, with alcohol consumption at 2.34 gallons per capita.