ATLANTA -- Nearly 36 percent of black Americans are obese -- a much higher rate than for other racial or ethnic groups -- and the gap exists in most states, a new federal study has found.
About 29 percent of Hispanics and 24 percent of whites are obese, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
Health officials believe there are several reasons for the differences. People with lower incomes often have less access to medical care, exercise facilities and more expensive, healthier food. In many places, minorities are disproportionately poor.
But attitudes toward weight are also a factor, said Dr. Liping Pan, a CDC epidemiologist. "Blacks and Hispanics are more accepting of high weight," she said, adding that heavy people satisfied with their size are less likely to diet or exercise.
Copyright 2007 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.