Measures of body composition in blacks and whites: a comparative review

Abstract

Biological differences exist in the body composition of blacks and whites. We reviewed literature on the differences and similarities between the 2 races relative to fat-free body mass (water, mineral, and protein), fat patterning, and body dimensions and proportions. In general, blacks have a greater bone mineral density and body protein content than do whites, resulting in a greater fat-free body density. Additionally, there are racial differences in the distribution of subcutaneous fat and the length of the limbs relative to the trunk. The possibility that these differences are a result of ethnicity rather than of race is also examined. Because most equations that predict relative body fat were derived from predominantly white samples, biological variation between the races in these body-composition indexes has practical significance. Systematic error can result in the inaccurate estimation of the relative body fat of blacks, and therefore of definitions of obesity, if these inherent differences are ignored.

Childhood poverty and abdominal obesity in adulthood: a systematic review

“…Race, which reflects both the inheritance of genetic characteristics and can represent a proxy for socioeconomic conditions, is also associated with obesity 3,23,28,60 . The populations evaluated in the current review consisted of quite homogeneous ethnic groups, so they did not allow evaluating this variable's impact on abdominal obesity.…”

Urbanization and obesity in The Gambia: a country in the early stages of the demographic transition

“…Our study, although with a smaller sample size, confirmed the highest proportion of obesity in women and a complete absence of overweight and obesity in YM, which appeared to be clearly related to their regular physical activity. The appropriateness of some direct (hydrodensitometry) and indirect (skinfolds, BIA) body composition methods has been questioned for some non-western populations (Deurenberg and Yap, 1999;Wagner and Heyward, 2000). A recent review by Wagner and Heyward (2000) suggested that, because of the higher bone mineral content (BMC) of blacks, the most accurate technique for body composition measurement is the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), since it measures and divides lean body mass (LBM) from BMC, while the hydrodensitometric method, which lacks this property, could produce an overestimation of FFM.…”

Use of hand-to-hand impedancemetry to predict body composition of African women as measured by air displacement plethysmography

“…There is increasing evidence that the assumption of a constant density of the LBM is not valid across populations groups, for example blacks have a higher density of LBM than whites (Ortiz et al, 1992;Wagner & Heyward, 2000, 2001. Specific formulas have been recommended for converting body density to %BF in black men (Wagner & Heyward, 2000) and women (Ortiz et al, 1992).…”

“…Specific formulas have been recommended for converting body density to %BF in black men (Wagner & Heyward, 2000) and women (Ortiz et al, 1992). For this reason, %BF ADP was calculated from body density taking into account the value of 1.106 kg/l given by Ortiz et al (1992) for the density of LBM in black women, and the value of 0.9007 kg/l for the density of fat used in black men by Wagner and Heyward (2001).…”