According to the most recently released data, 45 percent of adult African Americans are obese placing them at increased risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Indeed, it appears that Blacks are more overweight than any other segment of the population. The comparable obesity figures are 30.6 percent for adult whites and 36.8 percent for adult Hispanics. Meanwhile, many of the remaining members of society, while not obese, are overweight.

The data comes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey which is widely considered the most authoritative standard for evaluating the levels of overweight and obesity in America because it is a large survey of people whose weight and height are actually measured. Overall, the government survey says roughly two-thirds of Americans - about 136 million people - are either overweight or obese.

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