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Obesity and Hispanic Americans

  • Among Hispanic American women, 78.8 percent are overweight or obese, as compared to 64 percent of non-Hispanic white women.
  • In 2018, Hispanic Americans were 1.2 times more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic whites.
  • From 2013-2016, Hispanic children were 1.8 times more likely to be obese as compared to non-Hispanic white children.
  • In 2018, Hispanic women were 20 percent more likely to be overweight as compared to non-Hispanic white women.
  • 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
  • In 2017, Hispanic high school students were 50 percent more likely to be obese as compared to non-Hispanic white youth.

 

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 20 years of age and over who were overweight or obese, 2013-2016. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater)
  Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men 81.8 75.3 1.1
Women 78.8 64.8 1.2
Total 80.4 69.8 1.2

Source: CDC 2019. Health United States, 2018. Table 26.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus18.pdf [PDF | 1.56MB]

 

Age-adjusted percentage of overweight persons 20 years of age and over who were  obese, 2013-2016. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater)
  Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men 40.4 37.0 1.1
Women 48.9 37.9 1.3
Total 44.8 37.4 1.2

Source: CDC 2019. Health United States, 2018. Table 26.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus18.pdf [PDF | 1.56MB]

 

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)
  Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic
White Ratio
Men 41.4 40.0 1.0
Women 31.4 27.7 1.1
Total 36.2 33.9 1.1

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)
  Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic
White Ratio
Men 34.3 31.2 1.1
Women 35.4 28.7 1.2
Total 34.9 30.0 1.2

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

 

CHILDREN

Percentage of obesity among children and adolescents 6–11 years of age, 2013-2016
  Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females 24.5 10.4 2.4
Males 26.1 17.3 1.5
Total 25.3 14.0 1.8

Source: CDC 2019. Health United States, 2018. Table 27.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus18.pdf [PDF | 1.56MB]

 

Percentage of obese children and adolescents 6-17 years of age. 2013-2016
Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
25.5 15.5 1.6

Source:  Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. America's Children: Key National Indicators of well-Being. 2019. Table HEALTH7
https://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables/health7.asp

 

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, 2016
Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
49.9 47.5 1.1

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_6_1.2b [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, 2016
Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
63.9 63.7 1.0

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_8_1.2b [Accessed 03/03/2020]
https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

 

ADOLESCENTS

Percentage of high school students who were overweight, 2017
  Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females 21.9 14.3 1.5
Males 17.1 13.6 1.3
Total 19.5 14.0 1.4

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

 

Percentage of high school students who were obese, 2017
  Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females 14.0 10.3 1.4
Males 22.2 14.8 1.5
Total 18.2 12.5 1.5

Source: CDC 2020. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.
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)
Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
49.5 38.9 1.3

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)
Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
47.8 57.5 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

 

Percentage of regular leisure physical activity among adults 18 years of age and over, 2018
(Met federal physical activity guidelines)
Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
21.6 25.8 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

 

Percentage of adults age 18 and over who were obese and  were given advice to exercise more, United States, 2016
Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
63.0 62.1 1.0

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_5_1.2b [Accessed 03/03/2020]
https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

 

Percentage of adults age 18 and over who were obese and  were given advice about eating fewer high fat or high cholesterol foods, United States, 2016
Hispanic Non-Hispanic White Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
52.1 46.5 1.1

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_7_1.2b [Accessed 03/03/2020]
https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

 

RISK FACTORS

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

Diabetes – See Diabetes and Hispanic Americans
Heart Disease – See Heart Disease and Hispanic Americans
Stroke – See Stroke and Hispanic Americans

1Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html

Last Modified: 3/26/2020 8:52:00 PM

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