What is Obesity?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity is an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. An adult who has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher is considered obese. Among children of the same age and sex, overweight is defined on CDC growth charts as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile. Obesity is defined as having a BMI at or above the 95th percentile. BMI is based on an individual’s weight and height. Obesity is serious because it is associated with poorer mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Obesity is associated with the leading causes of death, including deaths from diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
How Does Obesity Affect African American Populations?
- African American women have the highest rates of obesity or being overweight compared to other groups in the United States. About 4 out of 5 African American women are overweight or obese.
- In 2018, non-Hispanic blacks were 1.3 times more likely to be obese as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
- In 2018, African American women were 50 percent more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white women.
- From 2015-2018, non-Hispanic black females were 2.3 times more likely to be overweight as compared to non-Hispanic white females.
- 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.
- In 2018, African Americans were 20 percent less likely to engage in active physical activity as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
Age-adjusted percentage of persons 20 years of age and over who were overweight or obese, 2015-2018 (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or greater)
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Men | 70.9 | 76.0 | 0.9 |
| Women | 79.6 | 67.4 | 1.2 |
| Total | 75.7 | 71.6 | 1.1 |
Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 26.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/026-508.pdf
Age-adjusted percentage of overweight persons 20 years of age and over who were obese, 2015-2018. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater)
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Men | 39.3 | 41.3 | 1.0 |
| Women | 56.2 | 39.0 | 1.4 |
| Total | 48.6 | 40.2 | 1.4 |
Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 26. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/026-508.pdf
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)
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Men | 37.4 | 40.0 | 0.9 |
| Women | 30.9 | 27.7 | 1.1 |
| Total | 33.8 | 33.9 | 1.0 |
Source: CDC 2022. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-15a.
https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/NHIS/SHS/2018_SHS_Table_A-15.pdf
Age-adjusted percentage of persons 18 years of age and over who were obese, 2018. (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater)
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Men | 31.2 | 31.2 | 1.0 |
| Women | 44.3 | 28.7 | 1.5 |
| Total | 38.3 | 30.0 | 1.3 |
Source: CDC 2022. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-15a.
https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/NHIS/SHS/2018_SHS_Table_A-15.pdf
Children
Percentage of obesity among children and adolescents 6–11 years of age, 2015-2018
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Females | 27.2 | 12.6 | 2.2 |
| Males | 18.3 | 18.3 | 1.0 |
| Total | 22.7 | 15.5 | 1.5 |
Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 27. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/027-508.pdf
Percentage of obese children and adolescents 12-19 years of age. 2015-2018
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 28.2 | 15.9 | 1.8 |
Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 27. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2019/027-508.pdf
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, 2018
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 30.5 | 39.5 | 0.8 |
Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query. https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr [Accessed 11/15/2022]
Percentage of children age 2-17 for whom a doctor or other health provider ever gave advice about eating healthy, United States, 2018
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 47.4 | 53.1 | 0.9 |
Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr [Accessed 11/15/2022]
Adolescents
Percentage of high school students who were overweight, 2019
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Females | 19.8 | 15.3 | 1.3 |
| Males | 13.3 | 13.9 | 1.0 |
| Total | 16.4 | 14.6 | 1.1 |
Source: CDC 2020. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.
https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline. [Accessed 11/16/2022]
Percentage of high school students who were obese, 2019
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Females | 21.0 | 9.1 | 2.3 |
| Males | 21.1 | 17.0 | 1.2 |
| Total | 21.1 | 13.1 | 1.6 |
Source: CDC 2020. High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data.
https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline. [Accessed 11/16/2022]
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)
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 50.3 | 38.9 | 1.3 |
Source: CDC 2022. 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)
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 45.8 | 57.5 | 0.8 |
Source: CDC 2022. 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)
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 20.0 | 25.8 | 0.8 |
Source: CDC 2022. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-14a.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm
Percent of adults who were obese do not spend half an hour or more in moderate to vigorous physical activity at least five times a week, United States, 2018
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 56.4 | 57.5 | 1.0 |
Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query.
https://datatools.ahrq.gov/nhqdr [Accessed 11/16/2022]
Percent of adults 18 years of age and over who were obese and were given advice about eating fewer high fat or high cholesterol foods, United States, 2016
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 48.2 | 46.5 | 1.0 |
Source: National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports. Data Query. https://nhqrnet.ahrq.gov/inhqrdr/data/query [Accessed 11/16/2022]
Risk Factors
Obesity is a risk factor for several diseases. For statistics on these related diseases, see:
Diabetes – See Diabetes and African Americans
Heart Disease – See Heart Disease and African Americans
Stroke – See Stroke and African Americans
Prevent and Manage Obesity
There are things that you can do to prevent and manage obesity:
Nutrition: Eat healthy diet (increase fresh fruits and vegetables)
Weight: Maintain a healthy weight
Exercise: Be physically active (seek advice from your doctor)
Source: CDC 2022. Overweight and Obesity. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/strategies/index.html