The most recent data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) They confirm a trend that has been ongoing for more than a decade. Adult obesity continues to rise, and its impact is uneven, with higher rates among Latino and African American adults.
According to the CDC, between 2017 and March 2020, obesity affected 50% of Black adults and 46% of Hispanic adults. It affected 41% of White adults. Meanwhile, the prevalence of diabetes was 21% among Hispanic adults, 19% among Black adults, 18% among Asian adults, and 12% among White adults.
These figures demonstrate that obesity is not only more common in minority communities, but is also associated with more chronic diseases from a younger age.
The most recent federal maps, compiled from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), confirm that the gap persists.
Between 2022 and 2024, all 49 states, the District of Columbia, and three territories in the United States reported obesity prevalence rates of at least 25% in the general population. Specifically among Hispanic adults, 33 states and territories reported a prevalence of 35% or higher. Oklahoma was the only state to exceed the 40% threshold.
One in three Latino adults in North Carolina suffers from obesity
In North Carolina, BRFSS data show two key moments: in the 2021–2023 period, the prevalence of obesity among Hispanic adults was 33,7%. In the 2022–2024 period, the indicator rose to 35,7%.
In other words, more than one in three Latino adults in the state lives with obesity. This occurs within a context where overall obesity rates in the adult population hover between 29% and 30%, depending on the year and margin of error.
“These data highlight the need for options for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Solutions begin with creating healthier communities where people have safe places for physical activity, as well as access to healthy, affordable food,” said Karen Hacker, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention.
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Map of obesity prevalence in the Latino community of the United States, by state:
Associated diseases: higher risk at younger ages
The statistics are not limited to weight. Behind those percentages are diseases that are more prevalent in Latino communities.
An analysis published in the journal National Library of Medicine, entitled “Obesity among Latinx people in the United States” , highlights: “obesity disproportionately affects Latinos, who have a higher prevalence of obesity and related comorbidities than the general population.”
The study, based on data from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), found that 44,8% of Latino adults and 50,4% of Mexican American adults met the criteria for obesity, compared to 42,2% of non-Latino white adults.
Among the associated diseases, the authors highlight type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and dyslipidemia.
Related: Cardiovascular diseases are the second cause of death among Hispanics in North Carolina
Higher rate of type 2 diabetes among obese Latinos
One of the most striking findings is that diabetes appears more frequently even in milder stages of obesity. Among people with class 1 obesity (body mass index between 30 and 34,9), type 2 diabetes affects 25,6% of Latinos. In contrast, it affects 16,4% of non-Latino white adults. This means that, at the same level of obesity, the burden of metabolic disease is greater in the Latino population.
The CDC has also documented other risks: asthma, strokes, some types of cancer and more serious respiratory complications.
“Obesity is a complex disease. There is a misconception that it is simply a matter of willpower or individual choices,” explained Ruth Petersen, director of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at the CDC.
“Many factors contribute: genes, certain medications, sleep, the gut microbiome, and stress. Also the access to food affordable, safe places to do physical activity medical care".
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Environments that hinder prevention in Latino communities
The study highlights that the Latino population is “highly heterogeneous” in terms of origin, diet, language, socioeconomic status, and immigration experience. This diversity means there is no single explanation, but rather several recurring patterns.
In many cities and rural areas, neighborhoods with a higher proportion of Latino families overlap with food deserts. These are places where the closest and cheapest option is usually fast food or ultra-processed food, not fresh fruits, vegetables, or protein.
La food insecurity —not knowing if there will be enough food until the end of the month— affects Latino families with particular intensity.
In North Carolina, the Department of Health itself estimates that around 10,9% of the population lives with food insecurity—some 1,2 million people. Furthermore, recent analyses estimate that, among Latinos, the rate reaches 17%, above the state average and the 8% recorded among the white population.
Acculturation, that is, the process of adapting to the customs of the host country, also plays a role. Changes in diet, increased consumption of processed foods and sugary drinks, and decreased physical activity are all contributing factors.
Added to this are structural barriers: less access to health insurance, fewer preventive checkups, and difficulty finding Spanish-speaking providers. Furthermore, there is a lower presence of Latino professionals in the healthcare system.
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After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
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