Advice to all women frustrated by slow weight loss...

Research from East Carolina University shows that African-American women burn less fat during low-intensity exercise (such as walking) than their Caucasian counterparts. Published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, the trial goes some way to explaining the slow weight loss often seen in African-American women.

According to some estimates, 5 out of 10 African-American women are obese. They're also more likely to suffer from high blood pressure or type II diabetes than obese Caucasian women. Although their slow weight loss has been attributed to differences in their diet or lifestyle, researchers also suspect that genetic factors may be to blame.

We must study this phenenomen more carefully. We should understand why people burn fat differently given the same exercise. This research may help us understand obesity in some patients.