Individuals who are overweight or obese are at a heightened risk of developing conditions such as high blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, diabetes, and increased LDL cholesterol, all of which are significant contributors to heart disease and stroke.
- In 2023, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native students in grades 9–12 were 18% more likely to be overweight than their peers in the total population.1
- Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native female students were twice as likely to be overweight than all female students.
- Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native male students were 52% less likely to be overweight than all male students.
- In 2024, American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 22% more likely to be obese than adults of the total population.2
Explore Medline Plus for health information about chronic conditions related to obesity in multiple languages. You can also browse the information by health topics, like Nutrition, to find resources in other languages.
Looking for curated searches on obesity within minority and tribal populations, including American Indian/Alaska Native populations, in the United States and its territories? Check out the OMH Knowledge Center Topic Guides.
Adults
| Adults ages 18 and over who were obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.0 or greater), percentage, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 40.9 | 33.4 | 1.22 |
| Persons ages 18 and over who were overweight but not obese (BMI of 25.0–30.0), age-adjusted percentage, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 33.1 | 34.0 | 0.97 |
| Persons ages 18 and over who were obese (BMI of 30.0 or greater), age-adjusted percentage, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 48.1 | 31.1 | 1.54 |
Children and adolescents
| Children ages 6–11 who were obese, percentage, 2015–2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio | |
| Girls | Not Reported | 17.7 | Not Reported |
| Boys | Not Reported | 20.9 | Not Reported |
| Both Sexes | Not Reported | 19.3 | Not Reported |
| Children ages 2–17 for whom a health provider within the past two years gave advice about the amount and kind of exercise, sports, or physically active hobbies they should have, percentage, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 39.0 | Not Reported | Not Reported |
| Children ages 2–17 for whom a health provider gave advice within the past 2 years about healthy eating, percentage, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 58.2 | Not Reported | Not Reported |
| Students in grades 9–12 who were overweight, percentage, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio | |
| Male | 6.9 | 14.3 | 0.48 |
| Female | 30.5 | 15.2 | 2.01 |
| Total | 17.4 | 14.7 | 1.18 |
| Students in grades 9–12 who were obese, percentage, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio | |
| Male | 15.1 | 13.4 | 1.13 |
| Female | 12.7 | 18.2 | 0.70 |
| Total | 14.0 | 15.9 | 0.88 |
Health impact of obesity
| Adults ages 18 and over who did not meet federal physical activity guidelines for either aerobic activity or muscle-strengthening, age-adjusted percentage, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 41.0 | 42.3 | 0.97 |
| Adults ages 18 and over who were sufficiently active (met aerobic activity guidelines only), age-adjusted percentage, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 54.4 | 54.2 | 0.99 |
| Adults ages 18 and over who met federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening, age-adjusted percentage, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| 18.7 | 24.1 | 0.78 |
| Adults ages 18 and over with obesity who had a physician office visit for counseling or education related to diet or nutrition, percentage, 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Total Population | American Indian/Alaska Native / Total Population Ratio |
| Not Reported | Not Reported | Not Reported |
1 CDC. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. High School Students Who Were Overweight, 2023. (Back to top)
2 CDC. National Center for Health Statistics. Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults. Percentage of obesity for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2023. (Back to top)
Date Last Reviewed: September 2025