Obesity and Hispanic/Latino 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.

  • In 2024, Hispanic adults were 12% more likely than the total U.S. population to have a BMI of 30.0 or greater.
  • In 2023, Hispanic students in grades 9–12 were 10% more likely to be overweight and 23% more likely to be obese than their peers in the total U.S. population.

Visit Medline Plus for health information about chronic conditions related to obesity in Spanish and other languages. You can also browse the information by health topics, like Nutrition, to find resources in Spanish.

Looking for curated searches on obesity within minority and tribal populations, including Hispanic/Latino populations, in the United States and its territories? Check out the OMH Knowledge Center Topic Guides.

Occurrence

Adults

Adults ages 18 and over who were obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.0 or greater), percentage, 2024
HispanicTotal PopulationRatio (Hispanic / Total)
37.533.41.12
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
HispanicTotal PopulationRatio (Hispanic / Total)
Male41.439.91.04
Female31.428.41.11
Both Sexes36.234.01.06
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
HispanicTotal PopulationRatio (Hispanic / Total)
Boys27.520.91.32
Girls25.617.71.45
Both Sexes26.619.31.38
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
HispanicTotal PopulationHispanic /
Total Population Ratio
Male15.414.31.08
Female17.115.21.13
Both Sexes16.214.71.10
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
HispanicTotal PopulationRatio (Hispanic / Total)
Male24.618.21.35
Female14.013.41.04
Both Sexes19.515.91.23
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.

Risk Factors for Complications

Adults ages 18 and over who did not meet federal physical activity guidelines for either aerobic activity or muscle-strengthening, age-adjusted percentage, 2018
HispanicTotal PopulationRatio (Hispanic / Total)
49.542.31.17
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-14a). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Adults ages 18 and over who were sufficiently active (met aerobic activity guidelines only), age-adjusted percentage, 2018
HispanicTotal PopulationRatio (Hispanic / Total)
47.854.20.88
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-14a). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Adults ages 18 and over who met federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening, age-adjusted percentage, 2018
HispanicTotal PopulationRatio (Hispanic / Total)
21.624.10.90
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-14a). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Date Last Reviewed: January 2026