A new study has found significant disparities in obesity rates among children and adolescents of different races and ethnicities in the United States. The research, conducted by Drs. Anurag Mehta and Sanjay Mehta using data from the National Center for Health Statistics, revealed that obesity prevalence was highest in Hispanic youth at 25.8%, followed by non-Hispanic Black youth at 24.2%. In contrast, rates were lower among non-Hispanic White (16.6%) and non-Hispanic Asian (11.0%) children and teens.
The study, which examined obesity trends from 1999-2000 to 2017-2018, also found that overall obesity prevalence increased from 13.9% to 19.3% during this period. However, the rate of increase varied by race and ethnicity. Non-Hispanic Black youth experienced the most rapid rise, with obesity prevalence nearly doubling from 14.1% to 24.2%.
Dr. Anurag Mehta, the study’s lead author, stressed the importance of addressing these disparities through targeted interventions and policies. “Our findings highlight the urgent need for culturally-sensitive obesity prevention and treatment programs that take into account the unique challenges faced by different communities,” he said.
The researchers noted that the study was limited by the underrepresentation of certain racial and ethnic groups in the NCHS database, particularly American Indian/Alaska Native and multiracial youth. They called for increased efforts to collect comprehensive health data on these populations to better understand and address their specific needs.
See: “Analyzing Obesity Trends in American Children and Adolescents” (June 6, 2024)
