Objective: This study will determine if the body mass index (BMI) of individuals with an ethnic admixture varies systematically from that of the ethnic groups with whom they share a common ethnicity or race.
Design and participants: The mean BMI and obesity levels of adults (n>200,000) who reported a single ethnicity (monoracial) were compared to adults with up to three ethnic admixtures.
Main outcome measure: Body mass index.
Results: Significant differences in the mean BMI of monoracial individuals were found (eg, lowest in Asian Americans and highest in Native Hawaiians). The mean BMI of individuals with an ethnic admixture was either similar to the average of the BMIs for the monoracial groups composing it or was closer to that of the monoracial group that had the highest mean BMI.
Conclusions: Persons with specific ethnic admixtures are at greater risk for obesity and, thus, obesity-related diseases/conditions. Identification of such individuals should be included in healthcare treatments to modify elevated risks and in public health programs designed to minimize health disparities.