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Citation

Frisco, Michelle L.; Shaulis, Kelsey; Van Hook, Jennifer; & Hummer, Robert A. (2022). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in U.S. Obesity Prevalence: What Have We Learned from Demographic and Population Health Science?.. Garcia-Alexander, Ginny & Poston, Jr Dudley L. (Eds.) (pp. 137-152). Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

Abstract

In the following review, we summarize findings from two decades of demographic and population health research investigating racial/ethnic and nativity disparities in childhood and adult obesity in the United States (U.S.). We document current racial/ethnic disparities in the U.S. obesity prevalence among adults and children and discuss important theoretical models that can help explain why these disparities are evident. We then focus attention on some of the primary contributions scholars have made to knowledge about racial/ethnic disparities in obesity. These contributions include a large body of research on the risk of obesity among the Hispanic population, including what is known about immigrants and their children; scholarship on Black women’s particularly high obesity risk; research indicating the different risk of obesity among disparate Asian American subgroups; and evidence about how racial/ethnic obesity disparities appear to be shaping racial/ethnic disparities in longevity and mortality. We conclude this chapter with a discussion of promising areas for future research including a discussion of challenges that much be confronted in order to continue advancing scholarship on racial/ethnic disparities in obesity.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10936-2_8

Reference Type

Book Section

Year Published

2022

Author(s)

Frisco, Michelle L.
Shaulis, Kelsey
Van Hook, Jennifer
Hummer, Robert A.

Continent/Country

United States

State

Nonspecific

Race/Ethnicity

Black
White

ORCiD

Hummer - 0000-0003-3058-6383