Abstract
Although progress has been made to understand the association between physiological and lifestyle behaviors with regard to obesity, ethnic differences in markers of obesity and pathways towards obesity remain somewhat unexplained. However, obesity remains a serious growing concern. This paper highlights ethnic differences in African Americans and Caucasians that may contribute to the higher prevalence of obesity among African Americans. Understanding ethnic differences in metabolic syndrome criteria, functioning of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, variations in glucocorticoid sensitivity and insulin resistance, and physical activity and cardiovascular fitness levels may help to inform practical clinical and public health interventions and reduce obesity disparities.
Highlights
Overweight and obesity are chronic health illnesses affecting many children and adults in the United States [1, 2]. e health consequences of overweight and obesity are enormous, the risk of developing chronic diseases such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Obesity remains a serious growing concern. is paper highlights ethnic differences in African Americans and Caucasians that may contribute to the higher prevalence of obesity among African Americans
African Americans (AAs) are disproportionately affected by obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, and it is likely that a host of factors interact in complex, and yet unexplained, ways to contribute to these health disparities. e prevalence of overweight or obesity in African women (66%) is 1.4 times that in Caucasian (CA) women (47%) [5], and African American (AA) women may be at greatest risk for the health consequences of obesity and have an almost twofold greater risk of developing diabetes and experiencing hypertension at earlier ages; they have signi cantly greater abdominal fat [6] than CA women
Summary
Overweight and obesity are chronic health illnesses affecting many children and adults in the United States [1, 2]. e health consequences of overweight and obesity are enormous, the risk of developing chronic diseases such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). E health consequences of overweight and obesity are enormous, the risk of developing chronic diseases such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). African Americans (AAs) are disproportionately affected by obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, and it is likely that a host of factors interact in complex, and yet unexplained, ways to contribute to these health disparities. E prevalence of overweight or obesity in African women (66%) is 1.4 times that in Caucasian (CA) women (47%) [5], and African American (AA) women may be at greatest risk for the health consequences of obesity and have an almost twofold greater risk of developing diabetes and experiencing hypertension at earlier ages; they have signi cantly greater abdominal fat [6] than CA women. Indicators, regulation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, glucocorticoid sensitivity (GS), insulin resistance (IR), and physical activity among AAs and Caucasians (CAs)
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