Obesity and American Indians/Alaska Natives

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 American Indian/Alaska Native students in grades 9–12 were 30% more likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic white peers.¹
  • Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native female students were 2.3 times more likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic white female students.
  • Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native male students were 50% less likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic white male students.
• In 2023, American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 40% 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
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
45.1	33.2	1.4

Persons age 18 and over who were overweight but not obese (BMI of 25.0–30.0), age-adjusted percentage, 2018
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
33.1	33.9	1.0

Persons age 18 and over who were obese (BMI of 30.0 or greater), age-adjusted percentage, 2018
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
48.1	30.0	1.6

Children and Adolescents

Children ages 6–11 who were obese, percentage, 2015–2018
	American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Girls	--	12.6	--
Boys	--	18.3	--
Both sexes	--	15.5	--

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, 2015
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
39.0	49.6	0.8

Children ages 2–17 for whom a health provider gave advice within the past 2 years about healthy eating, percentage, 2015
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
58.2	65.6	0.9

Students in grades 9–12 who were overweight, percentage, 2023
	Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Female	30.5	13.2	2.3
Male	6.9	13.8	0.5
Total	17.4	13.5	1.3

Students in grades 9–12 who were obese, percentage, 2023
	Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Female	12.7	11.3	1.1
Male	15.1	15.2	1.0
Total	14.0	13.4	1.0

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
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
41.0	38.9	1.1

Adults age 18 and over who were sufficiently active (met aerobic activity guidelines only), age-adjusted percentage, 2018
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
54.4	57.5	0.9

Adults age 18 and over who met federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening, age-adjusted percentage, 2018
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
18.7	25.8	0.7

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

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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)