Obesity and Hispanic Americans

Among Mexican American women, 73 percent are overweight or obese, as compared to only 61.6 percent of the general female population.¹
In 2007, Hispanic Americans were 1.1 times as likely to be obese than Non-Hispanic Whites.
In 2003- 2004 Mexican American children, between the ages 6-11, were 1.3 times more likely to be overweight as Non- Hispanic White Children.
From 2003-2006, Mexican American women were 30% more likely to be overweight, as compared to Non-Hispanic Whites.

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)

Mexican American

Non-Hispanic White

Mexican American/ Non-Hispanic White

Men

29.5

32.4

0.9

Women

41.8

31.6

1.3

Source: CDC 2009. Health United States, 2008. Table 75.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus08.pdf[PDF | 8.2MB]

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)

Hispanics/Latinos

Non-Hispanic White

Hispanics/ Non-Hispanic
White Ratio

Men 27.1 26.1 1.0

Women 27.8 23.4 1.9

Total 27.5 24.8 1.1

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]

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)

Hispanics/Latinos

Non-Hispanic White

Hispanics/ Non-Hispanic
White Ratio

Men 45.6 42.5 1.1

Women 34.6 26.6 1.3

Total 40.3 34.5 1.2

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]

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)

Mexican American

Non-Hispanic White

Mexican American/ Non-Hispanic White

Men

75.8

71.8

1.1

Women

73.9

57.9

1.3

Source: CDC 2009. Health United States, 2008. Table 75.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus08.pdf[PDF | 8.2MB]

CHILDREN

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

n

Mexican American

Non-Hispanic White

Mexican American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Girls

19.7

14.4

1.4

Boys

27.5

15.5

1.8

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

Percentage overweight among children and adolescents 6–11 years of age, 2001–2004

Mexican American

Non-Hispanic White

Mexican American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Boys

25.3

18.5

1.5

Girls

19.4

16.9

1.1

Total

22.5

17.7

1.3

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 - 17years of age 2003 - 2004

Mexican American

Non-Hispanic White

Mexican American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Boys

18.8

19.0

1.0

Girls

13.4

14.6

0.9

Total

16.3

16.9

1.0

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

Mexican American

Non-Hispanic White

Mexican American/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

Boys

22.3

18.8

1.2

Girls

16.6

15.7

1.1

Total

19.6

17.3

1.1

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

Hispanics

Non-Hispanic White

Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White

36.8

35.5

1.0

Source: 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report. Table 6_3_2.3b
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhqr07/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

Hispanics

Non-Hispanic White

Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White

53.3

56.0

1.0

Source: 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report. Table 6_3_3.3b
http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/qrdr08/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 ("a fatlike substance") -- all risk factors for heart disease and stroke.²
In 2007, Hispanic adults were 50% less likely to engage in active physical activity as Non-Hispanic Whites.

Physical Activity:

Inactive physical activity among adults 18 & over: 2007

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic White

Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

51.3

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

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic White

Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

25.0

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

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic White

Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

23.7

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]

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

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic White

Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

44.1

61.9

0.7

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

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic White

Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio

37.3

53.5

0.7

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

At a Glace – 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

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

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Content Last Modified: 12/8/2009 1:35:00 PM