According to the federal Office of Minority Health, the health status of racial and ethnic minority men lags behind that of the general population, despite the nation’s vast advances in science, public health and health care. Examples of health disparities cited include:
- Heart disease is the leading killer across most racial and ethnic minority communities in the United States, accounting for 24 percent of all deaths in 2010.
- Hispanic men are 30 percent more likely to have a stroke.
- African American men are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes.
- American Indian and Alaska Native men are 1.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes.
- Asian American men are 1.2 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes.
- Boys of color are less likely to engage in the recommended amount of physical activity each day.
- African American and Latino boys 6-11 years old are 1.3 times more likely to be obese than white boys of the same age group.