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Obesity and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

  • Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders were three times more likely to be obese than the overall Asian American population in 2014.
  • Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders were 80 percent more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic whites in 2016.
  • Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adolescents were more than twice as likely to be obese as compared to non-Hispanic white adolescents in 2017.
  • A 2014 survey on Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (NHPI) revealed that Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander sub-populations had higher obesity rates than both Asian Americans and white Americans.
  • In 2014, Samoans were 5.6 times more likely to be obese as compared to the overall Asian American population.
  • 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, 2016. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater)
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic White Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
24.4 34.3 0.7

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2016. 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, 2016. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater)
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic White Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
51.7 28.7 1.8

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2016. Table A-15a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

Age-adjusted percentages of body mass index among adults 18 years of age and over, single-race, overweight but not obese, 2014
Population Overweight Ratio Overweight / All Asian Population Ratio Overweight / Whites
All Whites 35.0 1.2 --
All Asians 28.6 -- 0.8
All NHPI 31.6 1.1 0.9
Native Hawaiian 30.8 1.1 0.9
Pacific Islander 32.9 1.2 0.9
Samoan 28.2 1.0 0.8
Guamanian/Chamorro 34.7 1.2 1.0
Other Pacific Islander 37.8 1.3 1.1

Source:  CDC 2015. Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014. Table 2.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_03/sr03_040.pdf [PDF | 2.43MB]

 

Age-adjusted percentages of body mass index among adults 18 years of age and over, single-race, obese, 2014
Population Obese Ratio Obese / All Asian Population Ratio Obese / Whites
All Whites 28.2 2.6 --
All Asians 11.0 -- 0.4
All NHPI 44.6 4.1 1.6
Native Hawaiian 43.0 3.9 1.5
Pacific Islander 44.9 4.1 1.6
Samoan 61.6 5.6 2.2
Guamanian/Chamorro 39.9 3.6 1.4
Other Pacific Islander 38.0 3.5 1.3

Source:  CDC 2015. Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014. Table 2.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_03/sr03_040.pdf [PDF | 2.43MB]

 

CHILDREN

  • National data on overweight and obesity not available at this time.

 

ADOLESCENTS

Percentage of high school students who were overweight, 2017
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic White Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
21.5 14.0 1.5

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
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic White Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
26.7 12.5 2.4

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 leisure-time physical activity, adults 18 years of age and over, 2018
(Did not meet federal physical activity guidelines)
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic White Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
51.4 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, adults 18 years of age and over, 2018
(Met aerobic guidelines only)
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic White Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
44.5 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-time physical activity, adults 18 years of age and over, 2018
(Met federal physical activity guidelines)
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Non-Hispanic White Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
21.9 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

 

RISK FACTORS

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

Diabetes – See Diabetes and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders
Heart Disease – See Heart Disease and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders
Stroke – See Stroke and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders

1Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html
Last Modified: 3/26/2020 8:52:00 PM

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