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Obesity and Hispanic Americans

  • Among Mexican American women, 77 percent are overweight or obese, as compared to only 64 percent of the non-Hispanic White women.
  • In 2015, Hispanic Americans were 1.2 times as likely to be obese than non-Hispanic whites.
  • From 2011-2014 Hispanic children were 1.8 times more likely to be overweight as non- Hispanic white children.
  • From 2015, Hispanic women were 30% more likely to be overweight, as compared to non-Hispanic whites.

 

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 20 years of age and over who are obese, 2011-2014. (Persons are considered obese if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater.) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
 
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White
Men
39.7
34.0
1.2
Women
45.0
35.3
1.3
Total
42.3
34.6
1.2

Source: CDC 2017. Health United States, 2016. Table 58.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus16.pdf [PDF | 11.14MB]

 

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who are obese, 2015.
(Persons are considered obese if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater.) National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
 
Hispanics/Latinos
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanics/ Non-Hispanic
White Ratio
Men
31.6
30.1
1.0
Women
31.9
26.9
1.2
Total
31.8
28.5
1.1

Source: CDC 2017. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2015. Table A-15
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who are overweight but not obese, 2015.
(Persons are considered overweight if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater.) National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

 
Hispanics/Latinos
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanics/ Non-Hispanic
White Ratio
Men
43.3
38.9
1.1
Women
34.4
26.8
1.3
Total
38.9
32.9
1.2

Source: CDC 2017. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2015. Table A-15
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 20 years of age and over who are overweight or obese, 2011-2014. (Persons are considered overweight if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater.) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
 
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White
Men
79.6
73.7
1.1
Women
77.1
63.5
1.2
Total
78.4
68.5
1.1

Source: CDC 2017. Health United States, 2016. Table 58.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus16.pdf [PDF | 11.14MB]

 

CHILDREN

Percentage of obesity among children and adolescents 6-11 years of age, 2011-2014
 
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Girls
24.1
14.4
1.7
Boys
25.8
13.0
2.0
Total
25.0
13.6
1.8

Source: CDC 2017. Health United States, 2016. Table 69.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus16.pdf [PDF | 11.14MB]

 

Percentage of children and adolescents 6-17 years of age, 2011-2014
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
24.3
17.1
1.4

Source: Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2017. Table HEALTH7.
http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables/health7.asp

 

Percent of children age 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever gave advice about amount and kind of physical activity, United States, 2013
Hispanics
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White
48.8
39.9
1.2

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_6_1.1 [Accessed 08/18/2017]
http://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

 

Percent of children age 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever gave advice about eating healthy, United States, 2013
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White
61.3
56.3
1.1

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_8_1.1 [Accessed 08/18/2017]
http://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

 

ADOLESCENTS

Percentage of high school students who were overweight, 2015
 
Hispanic
White
Hispanic / White Ratio
Girls
20.0
14.6
1.4
Boys
17.0
15.9
1.1
Total
18.4
15.2
1.2

Source: High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Table 105.
Available at http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline. [Accessed 08/18/2017]

Percentage of high school students who were obese, 2015
 
Hispanic
White
Hispanic / White Ratio
Girls
13.3
9.1
1.5
Boys
19.4
15.6
1.2
Total
16.4
12.4
1.3

Source: High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Table 105.
Available at http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline. [Accessed 08/18/2017]

HEALTH IMPACT OF OBESITY

  • People who are overweight are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats, diabetes and LDL cholesterol ("a fatlike substance") -- all risk factors for heart disease and stroke.1
  • In 2015, Hispanic adults were 30% less likely to engage in active physical activity as non-Hispanic whites.

 

Physical Activity

 

Percentage Inactive physical activity among adults 18 & over: 2015
(Did not meet federal physical activity guidelines)
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
53.5
43.7
1.2

Source: CDC 2017. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2015. Table A-14.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

Percentage Some Leisure Time Physical Activity Among Adults 18 & over: 2015
(Met aerobic guidelines only)
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
463.63
53.0
0.7

Source: CDC 2017. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2015. Table A-14.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

Percentage Regular Leisure Physical Activity Among Adults 18 & over: 2015
(Met federal physical activity guidelines)
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
16.8
23.4
0.7

Source: CDC 2017. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2015. Table A-14.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

 

Percent of adults age 18 and over who were obese who were given advice about exercise, United States, 2013
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
59.5
54.5
1.1

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_5_1.1 [Accessed 08/18/2017]
http://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

 

Percent of adults age 18 and over who were obese who were given advice about eating fewer high fat or high cholesterol foods, United States, 2013
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic White
Hispanic/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio
52.3
51.5
1.0

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_7_1.1 [Accessed 08/18/2017]
http://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

 

At a Glace – Risk Factors:

Obesity is a risk factor for several diseases. For statistics on these related diseases see:

Diabetes – See Diabetes and Hispanic Americans

Heart Disease –See Heart Disease and Hispanic Americans

Stroke –See Stroke and Hispanic Americans

1Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html
Last Modified: 9/15/2017 11:12:00 AM

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