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 Asian American students in grades 9–12 were 24% less likely to be overweight than their peers of the total population in 2023.1
- Non-Hispanic Asian American female students were 53% less likely to be overweight than female students of the total population.
- Non-Hispanic Asian American male students were 4% more likely to be overweight than male students of the total population.
- In 2024, non-Hispanic Asian American adults were 63% less likely to be obese than adults of the total population.2
Visit MedlinePlus for health information about chronic conditions related to obesity in multiple languages. You can also browse the information by health topics, like Nutrition, to find resources in Asian languages.
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Occurrence
Adults
| Adults ages 18 and over who were obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.0 or greater), percentage, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asian | Total Population | Ratio (Asian / Total) |
| 12.5 | 33.4 | 0.37 |
| Adults ages 18 and over who were overweight but not obese (BMI of 25.0–30.0), age-adjusted percentage, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asian | Total Population | Ratio (Asian / Total) |
| 32.4 | 34.0 | 0.95 |
Children and Adolescents
| Children ages 6–11 who were obese, percentage, 2015–2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian* | Total Population | Ratio (Asian* / Total) | |
| Both Sexes | 10.3 | 19.3 | 0.53 |
| Students in grades 9–12 who were overweight, percentage, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian* | Total Population | Ratio (Asian* / Total) | |
| Male | 14.9 | 14.3 | 1.04 |
| Female | 7.1 | 15.2 | 0.47 |
| Total | 11.1 | 14.7 | 0.76 |
| Students in grades 9–12 who were obese, percentage, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian* | Total Population | Ratio (Asian* / Total) | |
| Male | 13.3 | 18.2 | 0.73 |
| Female | 8.5 | 13.4 | 0.63 |
| Total | 11.0 | 15.9 | 0.69 |
Risk Factors for Complications
| Adults ages 18 and over who did not meet federal physical activity guidelines for either aerobic activity or muscle-strengthening, age-adjusted percentage, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asian | Total Population | Ratio (Asian / Total) |
| 41.6 | 42.3 | 0.98 |
| Adults ages 18 and over who were sufficiently active (met aerobic activity guidelines only), age-adjusted percentage, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asian | Total Population | Ratio (Asian / Total) |
| 54.7 | 54.2 | 1.01 |
| Adults ages 18 and over who met federal physical activity guidelines for aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening, age-adjusted percentage, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asian | Total Population | Ratio (Asian / Total) |
| 22.9 | 24.1 | 0.95 |
*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.
1 CDC. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. High School Students Who Were Overweight, 2023. (Back to top)
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 to top)
Date Last Reviewed: January 2026