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Expanding the Reach and Impact of
Consumer e-Health Tools

June 2006

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion logo

Table of Contents
Executive Summary (Stand-Alone)
Acknowledgments
Preface: A Vision of e-Health Benefits for All
Executive Summary
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Mapping Diversity to Understand Users’ Requirements for e-Health Tools
Chapter 3. Assessing the Evidence Base for e-Health Tools for Diverse Users
Chapter 4. Strategic Factors in Realizing the Potential of e-Health
Chapter 5. Partnerships for Meaningful Access
Conclusion
Appendix 1. Environmental Scan of 40 e-HealthTools
Appendix 2. Project Interviewees, Experts Consulted, and Reviewers
Appendix 3. Chapter 3 Literature Review Summary
Appendix 4. A Comparison of Internet Use and Health Status of Populations That Experience Health Disparities
References

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Appendix 4. A Comparison of Internet Use and Health Status of Populations That Experience Health Disparities (Part 3)

2. Obesity

2.1 Race and Ethnicity

The rate of obesity is slightly higher for Hispanics/Latinos and non-Hispanic Blacks/African Americans compared to non-Hispanic Whites (Figure 12). On the other hand, rates of Internet use for Hispanics/Latinos and Blacks/African Americans are lower than for non-Hispanic Whites (Figure 11).

Figure 11

Figure 11 depicts data for the following eight racial/ethnic groups: (1) American Indian/Native American, (2) Asian or Pacific Islander, (3) Black or African American, (4) White, (5) Hispanic or Latino, (6) Not Hispanic or Latino, (7) Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, and (8) Not Hispanic or Latino, White. Figure 11 compares percentage of adults age 20 and over from different racial and ethnic populations that go online to access the Internet/WWW or to send/receive email and shows that rates of Internet use for Blacks or African Americans (44.3%), Not Hispanic or Latino Blacks or African Americans (44.6%), Not Hispanic or Latino Blacks or African Americans (46.4%), and American Indians/Native Americans (50.6%) are lower than for Asians or Pacific Islanders (72%), Not Hispanic or Latino Whites (59.9%), Whites (59.8%), Not Hispanics or Latinos (58.5%), and Hispanics or Latinos (56.8%).d

Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project’s Daily Internet Tracking Survey,
2002–2003


Figure 12

Figure 12 depicts data for the following eight racial/ethnic groups: (1) American Indian/Native American, (2) Asian or Pacific Islander, (3) Black or African American, (4) White, (5) Hispanic or Latino, (6) Not Hispanic or Latino, (7) Not Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, and (8) Not Hispanic or Latino, White. The figure compares obesity in adults age 20 and over by race and ethnicity and shows that obesity is greater in Not Hispanic or Latino Blacks or African Americans (40%) and Hispanics or Latinos (34%) than in Not Hispanic or Latino Whites (29%). Data were not collected for Blacks or African Americans, Whites, and Not Hispanics or Latinos. Data for American Indians/Native Americans and Asians or Pacific Islanders do meet criteria for statistical reliability, data quality, or confidentiality.d

Source: CDC Wonder. DATA2010…the Healthy People 2010 Database.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 2004

DSU = Data do not meet the criteria for statistical reliability, data quality, or confidentiality.
DNA = Data for specific population are not collected.

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2.2 Gender

Gender differences in obesity do not appear to be large; similarly, Internet use does not appear to differ largely between males and females (Figures 13 and 14).

Figure 13

Figure 13 compares percentage of individuals by gender who go online to access the Internet/WWW or to send/receive email and shows that more males (61.6%) use the Internet than females (56.7%).d

Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project's Daily Internet Tracking Survey,
2002-2003


Figure 14

Figure 14 compares obesity in adults age 20 and over by gender and shows that obesity is greater in females (33%) than in males (28%).d

Source: CDC Wonder. DATA2010…the Healthy People 2010 Database.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 2004
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