Body fat differences by self-reported race/ethnicity in healthy term newborns

Published: 01 February 2016

The role of race in infant body composition has been investigated in a study published in the Pediatric Obesity journal.

This study aimed to assess whether ethnic differences in body fat are present at birth in healthy infants born at term, where body fat is measured using air displacement plethysmography (PEA POD) and fat distribution by skin-fold thickness.

The study conclusions are that "race/ethnic and sex differences in FM are present in healthy term newborns. Although the implications of these differences are unclear, studies beginning in utero and birth set the stage for a life course approach to understanding disease later in life".

The article details are the following:

- Title: "Body fat differences by self-reported race/ethnicity in healthy term newborns"
- Authors: Paley C, Hull H, Ji Y, Toro-Ramos T, Thornton J, Bauer J, Matthews P, Yu A, Navder K, Dorsey K, Gallagher D. - Department of Pediatrics, St. Luke's - Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Published in:Pediatr Obes. 2015 Oct 28.

The scientific article can be purchased at the following link: click here