SIGNIFICANCE: The rise in childhood obesity has been referred to as an epidemic by public health officials. An estimated 15% of children ages 6-19 are overweight – almost 9 million children and teenagers, according to 1999-2000 study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Many obese and overweight kids are more likely to become overweight adults, develop asthma, high blood pressure, joint problems, and adult-onset diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes). With prevalence rates two times that of Caucasian children, African American youth (AAY) represent a disproportionate high risk group. Since morbidity and mortality rates indicate a population’s overall public health burden, it can be argued that African Americans carry a greater health burden since African American mortality rates for the above mentioned chronic diseases exceed Caucasian Americans. Therefore, it is the purpose of this study to determine risk factors in African American female youth at specific ages. METHODS: A cross section of one-hundred twenty four (N=124) females age 10 years (y) to 16y were sub-categorized into 7 age groups. Subjects were selected through their participation in a Summer National Youth Sports Program (NYSP). All subjects were African-American and classified as low socio-economic status according to Federal guidelines for free and reduced breakfast and lunch. Measures included age (y), height (cm), weight (kg) and body-fat (%). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from the following equation: weight (kg)/height (m2). Statistical analysis included means (SD) for all measures. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed with a post hoc Sheffe` comparison to establish differences in measures between age groups. Significance was set a priori at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Mean (SD) of height (cm), weight (kg), BMI, body-fat (%) showed significant (p < 0.05) variance from 10y to 16y. However, through the post hoc Sheffe` comparisons, mean differences were significant in the following year increments: height from 10y to 11y (+11.3 cm); weight from 10y to 13y (+19.5 kg) up to 16y; BMI from 10y to 14y (+7.8). Body-fat did not show significant increases across age groups. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, it is concluded that with this demographic group, the changes in BMI were brought on primarily though increased stature (i.e., height) and lean body mass and less influenced by body-fat. Additional research in youth beyond 16y and within all ethnic groups of varying economic status is warranted. Keyword(s): disease prevention, diversity, youth-at-risk