Healthy access behaviors communities III (healthy abcs III)-louisiana HOP - in louisiana, high obesity rates are a widespread challenge among residents, local leaders, and state health officials

According to the behavioral risk factor surveillance system data of 2021, the united states has an adult obesity rate of 33.0% while LA has a higher rate of 38.3% with 55% (35 of 64) of the parishes (i.e., counties) having an adult obesity rate over 40%. Due to this high prevalence of obesity, LA citizens suffer disproportionally from higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity-related cancers. The louisiana state university agricultural center (LSU agcenter), part of the LA cooperative extension service, along with state, regional, and local partners, propose to implement a 5-year project that will address high rates of obesity in high-poverty, majority rural communities through the healthy access, behaviors, and communities III (healthy abcs) program. The goal of this project is to reduce the obesity burden in targeted parishes by building upon work from our previous healthy ABC's CDC high obesity programs (DP14-1416 and DP18-1809) by continuing to utilize local cooperative extension services to expand implementation of evidence-based strategies and leverage partner resources that equitably increase access to healthier foods and safe places for PA. Strategies and activities within this project will continue to focus on equitable, community-participatory approaches to addressing individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy sectors of influence. As this project is developed and implemented, the LSU agcenter will continue to collaborate and communicate with community members, internal partners, and external partners to reduce health disparities and improve food and PA access to reduce obesity and other associated health conditions in 12 targeted parishes with adult obesity rates over 40%.