Obesity and Black/African Americans

Obesity is a long-term health condition defined as having an excessive accumulation of body fat that poses a risk to our health. It is commonly identified in adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, and children with a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for their sex and age.

Having too much body fat can cause inflammation and other lasting changes in the body. Obesity raises the risk of many serious health problems for both children and adults. The risk is higher with the more weight a person has and the longer they carry it for. In children and adults, obesity increases the chance of health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and some forms of cancer, among other health problems. Eating healthy foods, being physically active, and managing stress can help prevent obesity and support better overall health.

In 2024, Black/African American adults were 28% more likely than U.S. adults overall to have obesity.

In 2023, Black/African American high school boys were 8% more likely, and girls were 55% more likely, than their peers to have obesity.

Additional Resources

MedlinePlus

Related Data

Further Reading

HHS OMH Knowledge Center Topic Guide: Obesity

Occurrence

Adults

Adults ages 18 and over who were obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.0 or greater), percentage, 2024
Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
42.6	33.4	1.28

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Interactive summary health statistics for adults: Percentage of obesity for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adults ages 18 and over who were overweight but not obese (BMI of 25.0–30.0), age-adjusted percentage, 2018
Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
33.8	34.0	0.99

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2019). Summary health statistics: National Health Interview Survey, 2018 (Table A-15a). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Children and Adolescents

Children ages 6–11 who were obese, percentage, 2015–2018
	Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
Boys	18.3	20.9	0.88
Girls	27.2	17.7	1.59
Both Sexes	22.7	19.3	1.18

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2023). Health, United States 2019 (Table 27). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Students in grades 9–12 who were overweight, percentage, 2023
	Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
Male	13.7	14.3	0.96
Female	21.4	15.2	1.41
Both Sexes	17.5	14.7	1.19

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. (2024). 1991-2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data: High school students who were overweight. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Students in grades 9–12 who were obese, percentage, 2023
	Black*	Total Population	Ratio (Black* / Total)
Male	19.7	18.2	1.08
Female	20.8	13.4	1.55
Both Sexes	20.2	15.9	1.27

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. (2024). 1991-2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data: High school students who had obesity. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.

Date Last Reviewed: August 2026