Ethnic variation in the prevalence of obesity in North American children and youth.

The estimated prevalence of obesity in North American children and youth (6 to 17 years) in the 1960s through the 1980s is reported. Use of the triceps skinfold and BMI independently and in combination as indicators of obesity provides different estimates of prevalence due to ethnicity. With the triceps skinfold as the indicator, there is an increase in the prevalence of obesity and a reduction in variation between Black and White children and youth from the 1960s to 1980; however, with the BMI as the indicator, there is no change in the prevalence of obesity and negligible ethnic difference in these national data sets. On the other hand, the prevalence of obesity has increased over time in Mexican American and American Indian children and youth. Data for American children and youth of Asiatic ancestry are limited.