Obesity and American Indians/Alaska Natives

American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents are 30 percent more likely than non-Hispanic white adolescents to be obese.
American Indian or Alaska Native adults are 50 percent more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic whites.
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

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)
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
33.1	33.9	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)
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
48.1	30.0	1.6

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

Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_6_1.1 [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, 2015
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
58.2	65.6	0.9

Source: 2016 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query: Table 7_2_1_8_1.1 [Accessed 03/03/2020]
https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query

Percentage of high school students who were overweight, 2017
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
11.0	14.0	0.8

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

Percentage of high school students who were obese, 2017
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
11.0	12.5	0.9

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

Percentage of inactive physical activity among adults 18 years of age and over, 2018 (Did not meet federal physical activity guidelines)
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
41.0	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)
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
54.4	57.5	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 regular leisure-time physical activity among adults 18 years of age and over, 2018 (Met federal physical activity guidelines)
American Indian/Alaska Native	Non-Hispanic White	American Indian/Alaska Native / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
18.9	23.4	0.8

Source: CDC 2020. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-14a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

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

Diabetes – See Diabetes and American Indians/Native Americans
Heart Disease – See Heart Disease and American Indians/Native Americans
Stroke – See Stroke and American Indians/Native Americans

3/26/2020 8:53:00 PM