Investigating the implications of the <em>MC4R</em> gene variants on health disparities related to caloric intake and body composition in African American women

This study aimed to assess the frequency distribution of Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) gene variants and their relationship to caloric intake and body composition in African American women, to understand how these factors influence eating habits and body composition. Fifty adults aged 18-70 from the Southeastern United States participated in this cross-sectional study. MC4R variants were identified using targeted sequencing on an Illumina platform, with genomic DNA (gDNA) isolated from buccal cells. Caloric intake was estimated using Nutritionist-Pro software based on responses to the modified Diet History Questionnaire II (DHQ II), and body composition was measured with the BOD POD instrument.