Allostatic Load and Health Status of African Americans and Whites

OBJECTIVES: To compare health risks in 84 healthy African American and 45 white men and women after calculating allostatic load (AL) from biologic, psychosocial, and behavioral measures. METHODS: Participants (18-45 years) ranging in weight from normal to obese and without hypertension or diabetes. Fitness, body fat, CRP, mood, social support, blood pressure, sleep and exercise habits, coping, and insulin responses were dichotomized as low/high risk and summed for AL. RESULTS: African Americans (3.4±1.9) had significantly higher AL than that of whites (2.4±1.9; P<0.05). Significantly more African Americans had AL≥3 (67.9%) than did whites (48.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Identifying cumulative AL may help identify and address the underpinnings of health disparities in African Americans.