Obesity and Asian Americans

  • Non-Hispanic whites are 60 percent more likely to be obese as compared to Asian Americans.
  • From 2004-2006, Filipino adults were 70 percent more likely to be obese as compared to the overall Asian population.
  • About 1 in 10 Vietnamese and Korean adults were underweight, from 2004-2006.1
  • 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.2
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)
Asian AmericanNon-Hispanic WhiteAsian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men49.975.30.7
Women36.664.80.6
Total42.769.80.6

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 20 years of age and over who were obese, 2013-2016. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater)
Asian American Non-Hispanic WhiteAsian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men10.937.00.3
Women13.637.90.4
Total12.537.40.3

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)
Asian American Non-Hispanic WhiteAsian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
34.232.91.0

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)
Asian American Non-Hispanic WhiteAsian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
13.030.00.4

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 percent distributions of selected health behaviors for adults 18 years of age and over, 2004–2006, overweight but not obese
PopulationOverweightRatio Overweight / All Asian PopulationRatio Overweight / Whites
All Whites34.6----
All Asians27.5--0.8
Chinese21.80.80.6
Filipino33.01.21.0
Asian Indian34.41.31.0
Japanese25.90.90.7
Vietnamese19.10.70.5
Korean27.31.00.8
Other Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander29.21.10.8

Source: CDC 2008. Health Characteristics of the Asian Adult Population: United States, 2004-2006. Table 2.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad394.pdf [PDF | 476KB]

Age-adjusted percent distributions of selected health behaviors for adults 18 years of age and over, 2004–2006, obese
PopulationObeseRatio Obese / All Asian PopulationRatio Obese / Whites
All Whites23.6----
All Asians8.1--0.3
Chinese4.20.50.2
Filipino14.11.70.6
Asian Indian6.00.70.3
Japanese8.71.10.4
Vietnamese5.30.70.3
Korean2.80.30.1
Other Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander12.51.50.5

Source: CDC 2008. Health Characteristics of the Asian Adult Population: United States, 2004-2006. Table 2.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad394.pdf [PDF | 476KB]

CHILDREN

Percentage of obesity among children and adolescents 6–11 years of age, 2013-2016
Non-Hispanic Asian Non-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Asian / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
12.914.00.9

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
Non-Hispanic Asian Non-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Asian / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
11.015.50.7

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
Asian American Non-Hispanic WhiteAsian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
48.347.51.0

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
Asian American Non-Hispanic WhiteAsian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
66.563.71.0

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

ADOLESCENTS

Percentage of high school students who were overweight, 2017
Non-Hispanic Asian Non-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Asian / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females14.314.31.0
Males12.613.60.8
Total13.414.01.0

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
Non-Hispanic Asian Non-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Asian / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females2.310.30.2
Males13.914.80.9
Total7.912.50.6

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

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)
Asian American Non-Hispanic WhiteAsian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
41.638.91.1

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)
Asian American Non-Hispanic WhiteAsian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
54.757.51.0

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-time physical activity among adults 18 years of age and over, 2018 (Met federal physical activity guidelines)
Asian American Non-Hispanic White Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
22.925.80.9

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 18 years of age and over who were obese and were given advice to exercise more, United States, 2016
Asian American Non-Hispanic White Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
64.162.11.0

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

Percentage of adults 18 years of age and over who were obese and were given advice about eating fewer high fat or high cholesterol foods, United States, 2016
Asian American Non-Hispanic White Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
49.546.51.1

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

RISK FACTORS

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

Diabetes – See Diabetes and Asian Americans
Heart Disease – See Heart Disease and Asian Americans
Stroke – See Stroke and Asian Americans


1Source: CDC 2008. Health Characteristics of the Asian Adult Population: United States, 2004-2006, page 5.

2Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html