Among Hispanic women, mortality rates from several diseases are lower than those of Caucasian women, including stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancers of the respiratory system and breasts. Mortality rates from AIDS and homicide, however, are significantly higher for Hispanic women than Caucasian women. The risk behaviors most often leading to premature death and disability are tobacco use, alcohol and drug use, poor diet, and physical inactivity. Many of these risk factors are serious issues for minority women. In addition, smoking prevalence varies by reservation.
Hispanic women smoke less on a daily basis than do Caucasian women.
Obesity is defined as the excess accumulation of body fat. For practical purposes, most women who are overweight are also obese. When a woman's BMI exceed 27.3, that person is considered overweight. The degree of obesity associated with a particular BMI ranges from mild obesity at a BMI near 27, moderate obesity at 30, severe obesity at 35, to very severe obesity at 40 or greater. Overweight women are at increased risk for hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer.