A new national study reveals that non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latinx children in the United States face significant disparities in cardiovascular health (CVH) compared to their non-Hispanic White peers. Using data from over 6,600 youth aged 2 to 18, researchers found that CVH scores—based on diet, physical activity, sleep, BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, and nicotine exposure—were consistently lower among minority children.
Non-Hispanic White girls had CVH scores 2.5 points higher than non-Hispanic Black girls, with household income differences alone explaining 41% of the gap. For Hispanic/Latinx girls, income disparities accounted for 67% of their lower CVH scores. Among boys, non-Hispanic White children scored 1.6 points higher than Hispanic/Latinx boys, with food insecurity explaining 36% of the difference.
“Black and Hispanic/Latinx youth had lower CVH scores than their White counterparts,” the study states, adding that these disparities are “one more negative consequence of childhood poverty.” The findings suggest that early-life social disadvantages—especially low income and food insecurity—play a major role in shaping future heart health and disease risk
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The authors emphasize that these disparities begin in childhood and persist into adulthood, contributing to long-term cardiovascular disease risks. They call for policies that address economic inequality and food access to reduce these health gaps and improve outcomes for marginalized communities.
See: “Racial and ethnic disparities in childhood cardiovascular health: evidence of the role of social disadvantage from NHANES 2013–2018” (October 24, 2025)
