Obesity and Hispanic Americans

• Among Hispanic American women, 78.8 percent are overweight or obese, as compared to 64 percent of non-Hispanic white women.
• In 2018, Hispanic Americans were 1.2 times more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic whites.
• From 2013-2016, Hispanic children were 1.8 times more likely to be obese as compared to non-Hispanic white children.
• In 2018, Hispanic women were 20 percent more likely to be overweight as compared to non-Hispanic white women.
• 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.¹
• In 2017, Hispanic high school students were 50 percent more likely to be obese as compared to non-Hispanic white youth.

Source: CDC 2021. Health United States, 2019. Table 26.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/026-508.pdf

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

	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men	44.3	41.3	1.1
Women	47.1	39.0	1.2
Total	45.7	40.2	1.1

Age-adjusted Percent of persons 18 years of age and over who were overweight but not obese, 2018. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater) 

	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men	41.4	40.0	1.0
Women	31.4	27.7	1.1
Total	36.2	33.9	1.1

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

	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men	34.3	31.2	1.1
Women	35.4	28.7	1.2
Total	34.9	30.0	1.2

CHILDREN

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

	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females	25.6	12.6	2.0
Males	27.5	18.3	1.5
Total	26.6	15.5	1.7

Percent of children aged 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever advised about the amount and kind of physical activity within the past two years, United States,  2020

Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
38.9	39.9	1.0

Percent of children aged 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever advised about the amount and kind of physical activity within the past two years, United States,  2020

Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
38.9	39.9	1.0

Percent of children aged 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever advised about eating healthy, United States,  2020

Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
50.8	51.4	1.0

Source: AHRQ. National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query. https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr

ADOLESCENTS

Percent of high school students who were overweight,  2021

	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females	23.7	14.6	1.6
Males	18.2	14.5	1.3
Total	20.9	14.6	1.4

Percent of high school students who were obese,  2021

	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females	17.4	10.6	1.6
Males	23.0	16.3	1.4
Total	20.2	13.7	1.5

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)

Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
49.5	38.9	1.3

Source: CDC 2020. 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)

Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
47.8	57.5	0.8

Percentage of regular leisure physical activity among adults 18 years of age and over, 2018 (Met federal physical activity guidelines)

Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
21.6	25.8	0.8

Percent of adults age 18 and over who were obese who had a physician's office visit for counseling related to diet/nutrition, United States,  2018

Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
44.8	25	1.8