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Among the genetic factors thought to influence fat loss response, racial differences have probably been studied least. Yet simple observation shows that there are big differences in body shape between Negroids, Asians and Caucasians in particular. Negroid women store fat more readily around the hips and buttocks: amongst Negroids, the Hottentot women of South Africa, who have survived in a severe desert climate for millennia, are well-known for their exaggerated gynoid tat stores, which may have increased the survival potential of the race in the desert.

Asian women are known for their small hips, waist-to-hip ratios used as a measure of risk in Caucasians, therefore, are generally not relevant for these women because they give measures more characteristic of a man. Other fat measures such as skinfolds or machine measures may be more relevant here, and particularly when comparing between racial groups. Normative values for body rat, therefore, need to take account of racial differences, but to date this has not been done.

The deposition of fat may also differ amongst racial groups. Chinese and Indians, for example, appear to put additional fat on the waist first before then filling out all over. Island races like Sa moans and Tongans are big people and are prone to developing significant obesity, but that fat is stored more evenly over the body. Aboriginal Australians have naturally lean limbs and small hips but also a high tendency for fat gain from eating ‘Western-style’ foods. This appears to manifest more in the form of abdominal obesity rather than the overall obesity more common of Polynesians and Melanesians.

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These measure energy intake or output by a variety of methods including food and physical activity diaries and questionnaires. All these methods are based on a number of assumptions and many are only very rough estimates of energy expenditure. Methods based on heart rate diaries are also not very accurate.

Body weight is the most important component of total energy expenditure, mainly because of the association between resting metabolic rate and fat free mass (FFM). Because bigger people have more total body mass and therefore also FFM, total energy expenditure will be greater. On the other hand, even the lightest female measured at rest in a metabolic chamber over a 24-hour period will expend at least 1200kcals, suggesting that a minimum dietary intake of 1200kcals is necessary for normal daily functioning.

Doubly labelled water. A more recent technique for energy expenditure measurement, which is likely to become more common in the future, is the doubly labelled mater technique. This was first used with humans in the early 1980s and involves loading a person with water which has been labelled with two stable isotopes, deuterium and a form of oxygen, and then measuring the differential elimination of these from the body through the urine. From this information, scientists can calculate the rate of use of oxygen and production of carbon dioxide over the period measured to a high degree of accuracy. The method is simple, safe and non-intrusive. At present its main limitation is the expense of the labelled water and the mass spectrometer needed to analyse the output.

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It wasn’t until Susan Ledford discovered the power of a fresh, sweet orange that she was able to pass up her biggest indulgence and lose 43 pounds.

A member of a big Southern family that loves food, Susan is no stranger to temptation. When special occasions call for family celebrations, “it’s like a race to see who can make the most disgustingly rich casserole,” says the 36-year-old newspaper designer from Tallahassee, Florida.

Such decadent dishes were standard fare while Susan was growing up. But they weren’t kind to her waistline. She gained weight throughout her teenage years, and by her twenties, she was trying all sorts of diets in an effort to slim down. “I’d go on one diet and lose a few pounds only to watch them return when I went back to my normal eating habits,” she recalls. By age 34, she topped out at 168 pounds.

Knowing that Susan was unhappy with her figure, a friend suggested that she join Weight Watchers. The program taught Susan how to make healthy food choices and control her portion sizes. Within a year, she took off 43 pounds.

Thrilled to have finally reached her goal weight of 125 pounds, Susan was determined to stay there. But she had one dietary hurdle to overcome. Susan loved to bake cookies for her family and friends, especially around the Christmas holidays. She especially enjoyed licking the bowl and sampling each batch fresh from the oven.

Realizing that her taste-testing ways would do nothing for her hard-earned figure, Susan decided to have a healthy snack before baking. Her food of choice: a fresh, juicy orange. She found that the intense flavor of the fruit quashed her cravings for cookies. She was i able to bake to her heart’s content without eating a thing.

Thanks to her ingenious strategy, Susan had an easier time sticking with her healthy eating habits. Her weight has held steady at 125 pounds since 1998.

WINNING ACTION

Feed your sweet tooth an orange. Susan’s strategy has real scientific merit. According to Marilyn C. Majchrzak, R.D., food-development manager at the Canyon Ranch Spa/Health Resort in Tucson, Arizona, intensely flavored foods such as oranges tend to be more satisfying than bland foods. So snacking on something sweet and juicy will help reduce temptation. Keep lots of oranges, fresh pineapple, strawberries, or your favorite tastebud-shocking fruit in your fridge.

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