Obesity is climbing among U.S. adults, but not all communities are affected equally. A new study published in JAMA reveals that Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) adults aged 30 to 49 are experiencing some of the steepest increases in obesity rates—outpacing both white and Asian American peers.
Researchers examined trends in high body mass index (BMI) across disaggregated racial groups within a large health care system. While obesity affects two in five U.S. adults overall, the study highlights how aggregated data can obscure critical disparities. NHOPI adults, in particular, showed a sharper rise in obesity prevalence compared to non-Hispanic white adults in the same age group.
Asian American adults, often grouped together in national statistics, showed more nuanced patterns when broken down by subgroup. Some Asian subgroups had relatively stable or lower obesity rates, underscoring the importance of disaggregating data to identify at-risk populations.
The findings are especially concerning given the link between obesity and cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome—a cluster of conditions that significantly raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and kidney failure. Early adulthood is a key window for prevention, yet these disparities suggest that many in NHOPI and certain Asian communities may be slipping through the cracks.
As the U.S. population becomes more diverse, public health strategies must evolve to reflect the unique risks faced by different communities.
See “Differential Obesity Trends in Asian and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander US Adults” (July 10, 2025)
