Higher Obesity Rates Among U.S.-Born Latino Youth Compared to Foreign-Born Latino and White Peers

Recent research indicates that childhood obesity rates vary significantly among different ethnic and nativity groups, with U.S.-born Latino children exhibiting higher obesity prevalence than their foreign-born counterparts and non-Hispanic white children. Despite the recognition that ethnicity influences childhood obesity, there has been limited data focusing on the impact of nativity—whether children are U.S.-born or foreign-born—particularly within primary care settings.

A comprehensive study published in The Annals of Family Medicine analyzed electronic health records (EHR) from community health centers across 21 states between 2012 and 2020. The study included data from 147,376 children aged 9 to 17 who visited over 1,300 health centers. Researchers categorized the children into three groups: foreign-born Latino, U.S.-born Latino, and non-Hispanic white, assessing obesity status during multiple visits to identify trends over time.

The findings revealed that U.S.-born Latino children consistently had higher odds of being obese compared to non-Hispanic white children across all time periods, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.33 to 1.48. Conversely, foreign-born Latino children did not show a significant difference in obesity rates compared to white peers. Overall, obesity prevalence increased across all groups from 2012 to 2020.

These findings underscore the importance for primary care practitioners to consider patients' cultural and nativity backgrounds when developing strategies for obesity prevention and management. Tailoring approaches to address specific needs of different groups could be vital in combating childhood obesity effectively.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-born-latinos-higher-obesity-foreign.html