Obesity and Hispanic Americans

  • 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)
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men81.875.31.1
Women78.864.81.2
Total80.469.81.2

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)
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men40.437.01.1
Women48.937.91.3
Total44.837.41.2

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)
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men41.440.01.0
Women31.427.71.1
Total36.233.91.1

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)
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men34.331.21.1
Women35.428.71.2
Total34.930.01.2

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
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females24.510.42.4
Males26.117.31.5
Total25.314.01.8

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
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
25.515.51.6

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
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
49.947.51.1

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
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
63.963.71.0

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
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females21.914.31.5
Males17.113.61.3
Total19.514.01.4

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
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females14.010.31.4
Males22.214.81.5
Total18.212.51.5

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)
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
49.538.91.3

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)
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
47.857.50.8

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)
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
21.625.80.8

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
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
63.062.11.0

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
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
52.146.51.1

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

RISK FACTORS

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


1Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html