- 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 American | Non-Hispanic White | Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Men | 49.9 | 75.3 | 0.7 |
| Women | 36.6 | 64.8 | 0.6 |
| Total | 42.7 | 69.8 | 0.6 |
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 White | Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Men | 10.9 | 37.0 | 0.3 |
| Women | 13.6 | 37.9 | 0.4 |
| Total | 12.5 | 37.4 | 0.3 |
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 White | Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 34.2 | 32.9 | 1.0 |
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 White | Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 13.0 | 30.0 | 0.4 |
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 | |||
| Population | Overweight | Ratio Overweight / All Asian Population | Ratio Overweight / Whites |
| All Whites | 34.6 | -- | -- |
| All Asians | 27.5 | -- | 0.8 |
| Chinese | 21.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Filipino | 33.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 |
| Asian Indian | 34.4 | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| Japanese | 25.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Vietnamese | 19.1 | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| Korean | 27.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| Other Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 29.2 | 1.1 | 0.8 |
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 | |||
| Population | Obese | Ratio Obese / All Asian Population | Ratio Obese / Whites |
| All Whites | 23.6 | -- | -- |
| All Asians | 8.1 | -- | 0.3 |
| Chinese | 4.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Filipino | 14.1 | 1.7 | 0.6 |
| Asian Indian | 6.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Japanese | 8.7 | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| Vietnamese | 5.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Korean | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Other Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 12.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 |
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 White | Non-Hispanic Asian / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 12.9 | 14.0 | 0.9 |
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 White | Non-Hispanic Asian / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 11.0 | 15.5 | 0.7 |
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 White | Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 48.3 | 47.5 | 1.0 |
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 White | Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 66.5 | 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
ADOLESCENTS
| Percentage of high school students who were overweight, 2017 | |||
| Non-Hispanic Asian | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Asian / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Females | 14.3 | 14.3 | 1.0 |
| Males | 12.6 | 13.6 | 0.8 |
| Total | 13.4 | 14.0 | 1.0 |
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 White | Non-Hispanic Asian / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Females | 2.3 | 10.3 | 0.2 |
| Males | 13.9 | 14.8 | 0.9 |
| Total | 7.9 | 12.5 | 0.6 |
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 White | Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 41.6 | 38.9 | 1.1 |
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 White | Asian American / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 54.7 | 57.5 | 1.0 |
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 |
| 22.9 | 25.8 | 0.9 |
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 |
| 64.1 | 62.1 | 1.0 |
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 |
| 49.5 | 46.5 | 1.1 |
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
Last Edited: 03/26/2020