Skip Navigation

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office of Minority Health

Office of Minority Health (OMH) Logo

Obesity and American Indians/Alaska Natives

  • American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents are 30 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adolescents to be obese.
  • American Indian or Alaska Native adults are 50 percent more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic whites.
  • People who are overweight are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats, diabetes and LDL cholesterol – all risk factors for heart disease and stroke.1

 

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who were overweight but not obese, 2018. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater)
American Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanic White American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
33.1 33.9 1.0

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-15a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who were obese, 2018. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater)
American Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanic White American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
48.1 30.0 1.6

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-15a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

CHILDREN

  • National data on overweight and obesity not available at this time.
Percentage of children age 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever gave advice about the amount and kind of physical activity, United States, 2015
American Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanic White American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
39.0 49.6 0.8

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_6_1.1 [Accessed 03/03/2020]
https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

 

Percentage of children age 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever gave advice about eating healthy, United States, 2015
American Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanic White American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
58.2 65.6 0.9

Source: 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_8_1.1 [Accessed 03/03/2020]
https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

 

ADOLESCENTS

Percentage of high school students who were overweight, 2017
American Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanic White American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
11.0 14.0 0.8

Source: High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.
Available at https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline. [Accessed 03/03/2020]

 

Percentage of high school students who were obese, 2017
American Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanic White American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
11.0 12.5 0.9

Source: High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.
Available at https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline. [Accessed 03/03/2020]

 

HEALTH IMPACT OF OBESITY

Percentage of inactive physical activity among adults 18 years of age and over, 2018
(Did not meet federal physical activity guidelines)
American Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanic White American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
41.0 38.9 1.1

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-14a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

Percentage of some leisure-time physical activity among adults 18 years of age and over, 2018
(Met aerobic guidelines only)
American Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanic White American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
54.4 57.5 0.9

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-14a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

Percentage of regular leisure-time physical activity among adults 18 years of age and over, 2018
(Met federal physical activity guidelines)
American Indian/Alaska Native Non-Hispanic White American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
18.9 23.4 0.8

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-14a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

RISK FACTORS

Obesity is a risk factor several diseases. For statistics on these related diseases, see:

Diabetes – See Diabetes and American Indians/Native Americans
Heart Disease – See Heart Disease and American Indians/Native Americans
Stroke – See Stroke and American Indians/Native Americans

1Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html
Last Modified: 3/26/2020 8:53:00 PM

OMH Home | HHS Home | USA.gov | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | HHS FOIA | Accessibility | Contact Us | Viewers & Players | Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
Language Assistance Available