Obesity and Black/African Americans

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.

• Non-Hispanic Black or African American students in grades 9–12 were 50% more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white peers in 2023.¹
  • Non-Hispanic Black or African American female students were almost 2 times more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white female students.
  • Non-Hispanic Black or African American male students were 30% more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white male students.
• In 2023, non-Hispanic Black or African American adults were 30% more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white adults.²

Adults

Adults age 18 and over who were obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.0 or greater), percentage, 2023
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
42.9	33.2	1.3

Persons age 18 and over who were overweight but not obese (BMI of 25.0–30.0), age-adjusted percentage, 2018
	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Male	37.4	40.0	0.9
Female	30.9	27.7	1.1
Both Sexes	33.8	33.9	1.0

Persons age 18 and over who were obese (BMI of 30.0 or greater), age-adjusted percentage, 2018
	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Male	31.2	31.2	1.0
Female	44.3	28.7	1.5
Both Sexes	38.3	30.0	1.3

Children and Adolescents

Children ages 6–11 who were obese, percentage, 2015–2018
	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Girls	27.2	12.6	2.2
Boys	18.3	18.3	1.0
Both Sexes	22.7	15.5	1.5

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, 2020
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
28.4	39.9	0.7

Children ages 2–17 for whom a health provider gave advice within the past 2 years about healthy eating, percentage, 2020
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
42.2	51.4	0.8

Students in grades 9–12 who were overweight, percentage, 2023
	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Female	21.4	13.2	1.6
Male	13.7	13.8	1.0
Total	17.5	13.5	1.3

Students in grades 9–12 who were obese, percentage, 2023
	Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Female	20.8	11.3	1.8
Male	19.7	15.2	1.3
Total	20.2	13.4	1.5

Health Impact of Obesity

Adults age 18 and over who did not meet federal physical activity guidelines for either aerobic activity or muscle-strengthening, age-adjusted percentage, 2018
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
50.3	38.9	1.3

Adults age 18 and over who were sufficiently active (met aerobic activity guidelines only), age-adjusted percentage, 2018
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
45.8	57.5	0.8

Adults age 18 and over who met federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening, age-adjusted percentage, 2018
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
20.0	25.8	0.8

Adults age 18 and over with obesity who had a physician office visit for counseling or education related to diet or nutrition, percentage, 2019
Non-Hispanic Black	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
27.7	26.5	1.0

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¹ CDC. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. High School Students Who Were Overweight, 2023 (back)

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)