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.

Source: CDC 2021. Health United States, 2019. Table 26.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/026-508.pdf

Age-adjusted Percent of persons 20 years of age and over who were obese, 2015-2018. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater)
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Men44.341.31.1
Women47.139.01.2
Total45.740.21.1
Source: CDC 2021. Health United States, 2019. Table 26.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/026-508.pdf
Age-adjusted Percent 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 2019. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-15a
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

Age-adjusted Percent of persons 18 years of age and over who were obese in 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 2019. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-15a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

CHILDREN

Percent of obesity among children and adolescents 6–11 years of age, 2015-2018
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females25.612.62.0
Males27.518.31.5
Total26.615.51.7
 Source: CDC 2021. Health United States, 2019. Table 27.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/027-508.pdf

Source: Federal ISource:  Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being. 2021. Table HEALTH7 https://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables/health7.asp
Percent of children aged 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever advised about the amount and kind of physical activity within the past two years, United States,  2020
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
 38.9 39.91.0
Source: AHRQ. National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query.
https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr  
Percent of children aged 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever advised about the amount and kind of physical activity within the past two years, United States,  2020
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
 38.9 39.91.0
Source: National Healthcare Source: AHRQ. National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query.
https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr
Percent of children aged 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever advised about eating healthy, United States,  2020
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
 50.8 51.41.0

Source: AHRQ. National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query. https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr

ADOLESCENTS

Percent of high school students who were overweight,  2021
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females 23.7 14.6 1.6
Males 18.2 14.5 1.3
Total 20.914.6 1.4
Source: CDC. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. 
https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline
Percent of high school students who were obese,  2021
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Females 17.4 10.61.6
Males 23.0 16.31.4
Total 20.2 13.71.5
Source: CDC. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.
https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline

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
Percent of adults age 18 and over who were obese who had a physician's office visit for counseling related to diet/nutrition, United States,  2018
HispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
 44.8 25 1.8
Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query.
https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr


Last Edited: 05/24/2024