Obesity Among Children and Adolescents in NHANES August 2021–August 2023: An Examination of Race/Hispanic Origin Subgroup Estimates
Authors' conclusion
Obesity increased among Hispanic girls, White boys, and Black girls. The prevalence increased in Black boys too, but the magnitude of increase from 2017 to August 2023 appears implausible. Small August 2021-August 2023 sample sizes for Black youth could have exacerbated unmeasured sampling variation. Continued surveillance will provide context for interpreting estimates.
Study context
- Population
- Youth 2–19 years, NHANES 1999 or 2007 to August 2023
- Participants
- 28,666 participants
- Exposure
- Hispanic girls vs Hispanic boys vs White (White) boys vs White girls vs Black (Black) girls vs Black boys
- Outcome
- Obesity prevalence trend (BMI-for-age ≥ 95th percentile) by sex and race/Hispanic origin
- Follow-up
- 1999 or 2007 to August 2023
Methodological detailsnationally representative, measured height and weight, trend analysis in regression models
- Nationally representative
- Measured height and weight
- Trend analysis in regression models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Obesity prevalence trend
- Increase among Hispanic girls (2007 to August 2023)
- p = 0.03
- No increase among Hispanic boys (2007 to August 2023)
- p = 0.06
- Increase among White boys (1999 to August 2023)
- p = 0.02
- Increase among Black girls (1999 to August 2023)
- p = 0.04
- No increase among White girls (1999 to August 2023)
- p = 0.10
- Quadratic trend among Black boys only
- p = 0.03
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Obesity prevalence in Black boys, 2017-2018 to August 2021-August 2023
- Increase from 19.4% to 38.1%
- P < 0.01
Original publication
Obesity Among Children and Adolescents in NHANES August 2021–August 2023: An Examination of Race/Hispanic Origin Subgroup Estimates. Pediatr Obes. Published 24 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →