Do African Americans have lower energy expenditure than Caucasians?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To review current studies that examine differences in energy expenditure between African Americans and Caucasians as possible modulators of attained differences in overweight status. DESIGN: Literature review of recent clinical and laboratory studies. METHODS: Studies chosen for review were those that examined directly resting metabolic rate (RMR), using indirect calorimetry, and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), using doubly labeled water. RESULTS: Ten of 15 studies reviewed reported a lower RMR in African Americans than in Caucasians. The differences in RMR between African Americans and Caucasians ranged from 81 to 274 kcaladay and could not be explained by differences in age, fat-free mass (FFM) or methodological concerns. Two of six studies of energy expenditure using doubly labeled water suggest that Black adults have a tendency for lower TDEE that can be accounted for primarily by a lower PAEE. CONCLUSIONS: If future studies indicate conclusively that African Americans do have lower RMR, TDEE and PAEE than Caucasians, then the disproportionally higher risk of obesity and associated metabolic disorders in Black adults may be preventable Ð especially in Black women. If these race differences are indeed a result of both physiological and behavioral factors, then interventions designed to reduce caloric intake andaor increase energy expenditure through lifestyle activity or structured exercise programs become especially important for African Americans and should be encouraged

Differences in resting energy expenditure between black and white smokers: implications for postcessation weight gain

“…These results are in agreement with several previous studies of nonsmokers which also found a lower rate of resting energy expenditure among black individuals compared to white individuals (Gannon et al, 2000). Collectively, these results suggest that black people have lower energy requirements than white people.…”

“…Recently, much attention has focused on the potential contribution of physiologic variables such as resting energy expenditure (REE). Several studies have found a signi®cantly lower REE among black people compared to white people (Albu et al, 1997;Gannon et al, 2000;Jackic & Wing, 1998;Weyer et al, 1999). Considering that reduced REE is an important risk factor for weight gain (Ravussin & Swinburn, 1993;Ravussin et al, 1988), it is likely that an increased level of energy ef®ciency among black people plays an important role in ethnic differences in obesity.…”

Explaining the Female Black-White Obesity Gap: A Decomposition Analysis of Proximal Causes

“…Genetic differences, for example in basal metabolic rates, could create weight differences even if there exists no differences in energy intake and expenditure. In a review of 15 studies, Gannon et al (2000) provide support for this explanation. They conclude that black women living in the U.S. may be particularly vulnerable to obesity due to a relatively lower energy expenditure for their metabolic size.…”

Efficacy of Orlistat as an Adjunct to Behavioral Treatment in Overweight African American and Caucasian Adolescents with Obesity-related Co-morbid Conditions

“…Another possible explanation for the lower weight loss among African American subjects may lie in the lower REE that has been described for African Americans. African American children have lower REE than Caucasians [60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] . In our study, not only was the REE of the African American subjects lower at baseline, the decrease in REE (adjusted for LBM and BFM) was 162 kcal/ 24 hr larger among African Americans than among Caucasians at 6 months, despite the fact that the African American subjects lost less weight.…”