Obesity and African Americans

What is Obesity?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity is an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. An adult who has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher is considered obese. Among children of the same age and sex, overweight is defined on CDC growth charts as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile. Obesity is defined as having a BMI at or above the 95th percentile. BMI is based on an individual’s weight and height. Obesity is serious because it is associated with poorer mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Obesity is associated with the leading causes of death, including deaths from diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.

How Does Obesity Affect African American Populations?

• African American women have the highest rates of obesity or being overweight compared to other groups in the United States. About 4 out of 5 African American women are overweight or obese.
• In 2018, non-Hispanic blacks were 1.3 times more likely to be obese as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
• In 2018, African American women were 50 percent more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white women.
• From 2015-2018, non-Hispanic black females were 2.3 times more likely to be overweight as compared to non-Hispanic white females.
• 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.
• In 2018, African Americans were 20 percent less likely to engage in active physical activity as compared to non-Hispanic whites.

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 20 years of age and over who were overweight or obese, 2015-2018 (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater)

	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men	70.9	76.0	0.9
Women	79.6	67.4	1.2
Total	75.7	71.6	1.1

Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 26.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/026-508.pdf

Age-adjusted percentage of overweight persons 20 years of age and over who were obese, 2015-2018. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater)

	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men	39.3	41.3	1.0
Women	56.2	39.0	1.4
Total	48.6	40.2	1.4

Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 26. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/026-508.pdf

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)

	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men	37.4	40.0	0.9
Women	30.9	27.7	1.1
Total	33.8	33.9	1.0

Source: CDC 2022. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-15a.
https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/NHIS/SHS/2018_SHS_Table_A-15.pdf

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who were obese, 2018. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater)

	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men	31.2	31.2	1.0
Women	44.3	28.7	1.5
Total	38.3	30.0	1.3

Source: CDC 2022. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-15a.
https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/NHIS/SHS/2018_SHS_Table_A-15.pdf

Children

Percentage of obesity among children and adolescents 6–11 years of age, 2015-2018

	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females	27.2	12.6	2.2
Males	18.3	18.3	1.0
Total	22.7	15.5	1.5

Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 27. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/027-508.pdf

Percentage of obese children and adolescents 12-19 years of age. 2015-2018

Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
28.2	15.9	1.8

Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 27. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/027-508.pdf

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, 2018

Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
30.5	39.5	0.8

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query. https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr [Accessed 11/15/2022]

Percentage of children age 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever gave advice about eating healthy, United States, 2018

Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
47.4	53.1	0.9

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr [Accessed 11/15/2022]

Adolescents

Percentage of high school students who were overweight, 2019

	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females	19.8	15.3	1.3
Males	13.3	13.9	1.0
Total	16.4	14.6	1.1

Source: CDC 2020. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.
https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline. [Accessed 11/16/2022]

Percentage of high school students who were obese, 2019

	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females	21.0	9.1	2.3
Males	21.1	17.0	1.2
Total	21.1	13.1	1.6

Source: CDC 2020. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.
https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline. [Accessed 11/16/2022]

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)

Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
50.3	38.9	1.3

Source: CDC 2022. 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)

Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
45.8	57.5	0.8

Source: CDC 2022. 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)

Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
20.0	25.8	0.8

Source: CDC 2022. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-14a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

Percent of adults who were obese do not spend half an hour or more in moderate to vigorous physical activity at least five times a week, United States, 2018

Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
56.4	57.5	1.0

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query.

https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr [Accessed 11/16/2022]

Percent of adults 18 years of age and over who were obese and were given advice about eating fewer high fat or high cholesterol foods, United States, 2016

Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
48.2	46.5	1.0

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query. https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query [Accessed 11/16/2022]

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

Prevent and Manage Obesity

There are things that you can do to prevent and manage obesity:

Nutrition: Eat healthy diet (increase fresh fruits and vegetables)
Weight: Maintain a healthy weight
Exercise: Be physically active (seek advice from your doctor)

Source: CDC 2022. Overweight and Obesity. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/php/about/obesity-strategies-what-can-be-done.html