Obesity and Hispanic Americans

Obesity

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.

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 20 years of age and over who were overweight or obese, 2013-2016. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater)
	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men	81.8	75.3	1.1
Women	78.8	64.8	1.2
Total	80.4	69.8	1.2

Source: CDC 2019. Health United States, 2018. Table 26.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus18.pdf [PDF | 1.56MB]

Age-adjusted percentage of overweight persons 20 years of age and over who were obese, 2013-2016. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater)
	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men	40.4	37.0	1.1
Women	48.9	37.9	1.3
Total	44.8	37.4	1.2

Source: CDC 2019. Health United States, 2018. Table 26.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus18.pdf [PDF | 1.56MB]

Age-adjusted percentage 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

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-15a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who were obese, 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

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-15a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

CHILDREN

Percentage of obesity among children and adolescents 6–11 years of age, 2013-2016
	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females	24.5	10.4	2.4
Males	26.1	17.3	1.5
Total	25.3	14.0	1.8

Source: CDC 2019. Health United States, 2018. Table 27.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus18.pdf [PDF | 1.56MB]

Percentage of obese children and adolescents 6-17 years of age. 2013-2016
Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
25.5	15.5	1.6

Source: Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. America's Children: Key National Indicators of well-Being. 2019. Table HEALTH7
https://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables/health7.asp

Percentage of children age 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever gave advice about the amount and kind of physical activity, United States, 2016
Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
49.9	47.5	1.1

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_6_1.2b [Accessed 03/03/2020]
https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

Percentage of children age 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever gave advice about eating healthy, United States, 2016
Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
63.9	63.7	1.0

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_8_1.2b [Accessed 03/03/2020]
https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

Percentage of high school students who were overweight, 2017
	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females	21.9	14.3	1.5
Males	17.1	13.6	1.3
Total	19.5	14.0	1.4

Source: CDC 2020. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.
https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline. [Accessed 03/03/2020]

Percentage of high school students who were obese, 2017
	Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females	14.0	10.3	1.4
Males	22.2	14.8	1.5
Total	18.2	12.5	1.5

Source: CDC 2020. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.
https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline. [Accessed 03/03/2020]

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

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 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

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 adults age 18 and over who were obese and were given advice to exercise more, United States, 2016
Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
63.0	62.1	1.0

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_5_1.2b [Accessed 03/03/2020]
https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

Percentage of adults age 18 and over who were obese and were given advice about eating fewer high fat or high cholesterol foods, United States, 2016
Hispanic	Non-Hispanic White	Hispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
52.1	46.5	1.1

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_7_1.2b [Accessed 03/03/2020]
https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

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

Last Modified: 3/26/2020 8:52:00 PM