Obesity is a risk factor for many serious health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer, and obesity rates have been rising in the United States.^1,2

In 2018, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Black adults were more likely than White adults to have obesity.^3,4,5 Prevalence of obesity or overweight is highest among Black women.⁵

Asian adults have the lowest obesity rate.⁶ However, some subgroups are more likely to have obesity than the overall Asian American population. For example, Filipino adults were 70% more likely to have obesity than Asian adults overall.⁷ Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults, who are grouped with Asian adults in some analyses, are more likely than Asian adults and non-Hispanic White adults to have obesity.⁸

People who had obesity as children are at increased risk of adult obesity,⁹ and disparities in obesity rates are apparent as early as age 2. Among children and adolescents ages 2–19, obesity rates are higher for Hispanic and Black adults than for White and Asian adults.¹⁰ Environmental factors, in addition to genetics, diet, and physical activity, likely contribute to childhood obesity risk.¹¹

Obesity Resources in Spanish

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Sobrepeso y obesidad (Obesity Information from NHLBI)

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

• Información sobre el sobrepeso y la obesidad en los adultos (Obesity Information from NIDDK)
• Control de peso (Weight Control Information from NIDDK)
• Cómo ayudar a su hijo si tiene exceso de peso (Childhood Obesity Information from NIDDK)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Sobrepeso y obesidad: Generalidades (Obesity Information from NICHD)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Las discapacidades y la obesidad (Disability and Obesity Information from CDC)

MyHealthfinder

Mantente en un peso saludable (Weight Control Information from MyHealthfinder)

Obesity Resources in Multiple Languages

MedlinePlus

Weight Control Information from MedlinePlus

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Obesity Facts.
3. Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Obesity and American Indians/Alaska Natives.
4. Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Obesity and Hispanic Americans.
5. Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Obesity and African Americans.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2017–2018. NCHS Data Brief, no. 360. Hales CM, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL.
7. Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Obesity and Asian Americans.
8. Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Obesity and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.
9. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Adult Obesity in the United States: CDC’s Tracking to Inform State and Local Action. Prev Chronic Dis. 2019;16:180579. Petersen R, Pan L, Blanck HM.
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2015–2016. NCHS Data Brief, no. 288. Hales CM, Carroll MD, Fryar CD, Ogden CL.
11. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Obesity.

Page updated December 28, 2021