Obesity and African Americans

African American women have the highest rates of being overweight or obese compared to other groups in the U.S. About four out of five African American women are overweight or obese.¹
In 2007, African Americans were 1.4 times as likely to be obese as Non- Hispanic Whites.
From 2003-2006, African American women were 70% more likely to be obese than Non-Hispanic White women.
In 2003-2004, African American children between ages 6 -17 were 1.3 times as likely to be overweight than Non-Hispanic Whites.

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 20 years of age and over who are overweight or obese, 2003-2006. (Persons are considered overweight if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater.) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Men

71.6

71.8

1.0

Women

79.8

57.9

1.4

Source: : CDC, 2009. Health United States, 2008. Table 75.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus08.pdf[PDF | 8.24MB]

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who are overweight but not obese, 2007. (Persons are considered overweight if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater.) National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic
White Ratio

Men 39.6 42.5 .9

Women 30.7 26.6 1.1

Total 34.9 34.5 1.0

Source: CDC 2009. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: 2007 Table 31.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_240.pdf[PDF | 8.43 MB]

Age-adjusted percentage of overweight persons 20 years of age and over who are obese, 2003-2006. (Persons are considered obese if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater.) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Men

35.7

32.4

1.1

Women

53.4

31.6

1.7

Source: : CDC, 2009. Health United States, 2008. Table 75.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus08.pdf[PDF | 12MB]

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who are obese, 2007. (Persons are considered obese if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater.) National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/Non-Hispanic
White Ratio

Men 31.0 26.1 1.2

Women 39.3 23.4 1.7

Total 35.6 24.8 1.4

Source: CDC 2009. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: 2007. Table 31.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_240.pdf[PDF | 8.43MB]

CHILDREN

Percentage overweight among children and adolescents 6–11 years of age, 2003–2006

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Girls

24.0

14.4

1.7

Boys

18.6

15.5

1.2

Source: : CDC, 2009. Health United States, 2008. Table 76.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus08.pdf[PDF | 8.2MB]

Overweight among children and adolescents 6–11 years of age 2003–2004

African American

Non-Hispanic White

African American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Boys

17.5

18.5

1.0

Girls

26.5

16.9

1.6

Total

22.0

17.7

1.2

Source: : Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2007. Table HEALTH5.
http://www.childstats.gov/pdf/ac2007/ac_07.pdf[PDF | 2MB]

Overweight among children and adolescents 12–17 years of age 2003–2004

African American

Non-Hispanic White

African American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Boys

19.1

19.0

1.0

Girls

24.1

14.6

1.6

Total

21.5

16.9

1.3

Overweight among children and adolescents 6-17 years of age 2003 - 2004

African American

Non-Hispanic White

African American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Boys

18.3

18.8

1.0

Girls

25.3

15.7

1.6

Total

21.7

17.3

1.3

Percent of children age 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever gave advice about amount and kind of physical activity, United States, 2005

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

33.3

35.3

0.9

Source: 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report. Table 6_3_2.3b
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr08/index.html

Percent of children age 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever gave advice about eating healthy, United States, 2005

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

54.1

56.0

1.0

Source: 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report. Table 6_3_3.3b
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr08/index.html

Outpatient visits with counseling or education about diet and nutrition 0-17 years 2003- 2004

African American

Non-Hispanic White

African American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

17.9

14.3

1.3

Source: :2006 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 237.
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr06/index.html

Outpatient visits with counseling or education about exercise 0-17 years 2003-2004

African American

Non-Hispanic White

African American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

5.3

5.1

1.0

Source: :2006 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 238.
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr06/index.html

HEALTH IMPACT OF OBESITY

More than 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.²
People who are overweight are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats, and LDL cholesterol -- all risk factors for heart disease and stroke. ²
In 2007, African Americans were 50% less likely to engage in active physical activity as Non-Hispanic Whites.
Deaths from heart disease and stroke are almost twice the rate for African Americans as compared to Whites.

Physical Activity:

Inactive physical activity among adults 18 & over: 2007

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

50.8

34.7

1.5

Source: :CDC 2009. Health United States, 2008. Table 74.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus08.pdf[PDF | 8.2MB]

Some Leisure Time Physical Activity Among Adults 18 & over: 2007

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

26.2

31.5

0.8

Source: :CDC 2009. Health United States, 2008. Table 74.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus08.pdf[PDF | 8.2MB]

Regular Leisure Physical Activity Among Adults 18 & over: 2007

African American

Non-Hispanic White

African American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

23.0

33.9

0.7

Source: :CDC 2009. Health United States, 2008. Table 74.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus08.pdf[PDF | 8.2MB]

Outpatient visits with counseling or education about exercise 2003-2004

African American

Non-Hispanic White

African American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Men

8.9

9.2

1.0

Women

9.7

8.8

1.1

Total

9.4

9.0

1.0

Source: :2006 National Healthcare Disparities Report. Table 238.
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr06/index.html

Percent of adults age 18 and over who were obese who were given advice about exercise, United States, 2005

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

56.1

61.9

0.9

Source: 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report. Table 4_1_6.2b
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr08/index.html

Percent of adults age 18 and over who were obese who were given advice about eating fewer high fat or high cholesterol foods, United States, 2005

Non-Hispanic Black

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

46.5

53.5

0.9

Source: 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report. Table 4_1_7.2b
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr08/index.html

At a Glance – Risk Factors:

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

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

¹Source: OWH, 2007. http://www.4women.gov/minority/africanamerican/obesity.cfm
²Source: http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2006/Obesity2006Report.pdf Exit Disclaimer

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Content Last Modified: 12/8/2009 1:27:00 PM