Hispanics generally are at high risk of health problems, have lower physical fitness levels than Anglo-Americans and obesity is common, especially among women. The purpose of this study was to examine how young Hispanic men and women differ in acculturation, physical fitness measures, physical activity levels and knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors of heart disease. Height, weight and tricep skinfolds were measured on 213 Hispanic adults (118 males, 95 females) who ranged in age from 18 to 21 years. These measures were used to determine body mass index (BMI), VO2 max (University of Houston Non-Exercise Test-Percent Body Fat Model) and percent body fat. In addition, the participants completed the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II), the Physical Activity Rating Scale and were given a16-item knowledge of risk factors of heart disease test. For all variables, mean differences between males and females were analyzed using t-tests. Men had significantly higher physical activity levels (t= 4.66, p<.001), significantly higher VO2 max levels (t=16.80, p<.001) and significantly lower percent body fat measures (t=-10.54, p<.001), but there was no difference in BMI. When income was used as a co-variable with BMI, there were no differences between males and females, however, men had lower BMI means as income level increased while women did not show this trend. For acculturation, both the male and female mean scores were slightly Anglo acculturated, however, the male mean showed a significantly higher Anglo orientation than the female mean score (t= 2.99, p< .01). Females scored significantly higher on the knowledge test of risk factors of heart disease (t=-2.02, p<.05). While women scored higher on the knowledge test, they tended to be less acculturated than the men and much less active and fit which may explain why Hispanic women are at increased risk for obesity and other health problems. Keyword(s): adult fitness, physical activity