Title: Asian Adolescents Have a Higher Trunk
eripheral Fat Ratio than Whites.
Authors: Novotny, Rachel; Daida, Yihe G.; Grove, John S.; Marchand, Loïc Le; Vijayadeva, Vinutha
Source: Journal of Nutrition, Mar2006, Vol. 136 Issue 3, p642-647, 6p
Document Type: Article
Subject Terms1: ANTHROPOMETRY
BODY size
BODY weight
ETHNICITY
FAT
OBESITY
PHYSICAL anthropology
TEENAGERS
TORSO
Author-Supplied Keywords: adolescent
ethnicity
DXA
Asian
trunk
fat
Abstract: Body fat, especially in the upper body, has been associated with increased risk of chronic disease among adults. Factors associated with these traits among ethnically diverse populations are not well studied. We examined factors influencing body fat and weight among Asian and White adolescent girls from the female adolescent maturation longitudinal study (initial exam plus 2-y follow-up examination) in Hawaii. The objective of this study was to identify and compare influences on and differences in body size and fat distribution among Asian and White adolescent girls. Subjects were identified among age-eligible members of a large HMO. Of the 214 girls recruited for Exam 1, 107 girls returned for Exam 2. The girls' age, ethnicity, a 3-d diet record, and physical activity recall were obtained by questionnaire at both times, and Tanner pubic hair stage and anthropometry were clinically measured by trained staff at both exams. The ethnic proportion of the study sample was 57% Asian and 43% White. Each girl's ethnicity was based on the ethnic proportion of each biologic parent. The percentage of body fat was measured by Lunar Prodigy dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the follow-up exam only. Among various measures of skeletal size and adiposity, only leg length (inversely) and DXA trunk:peripheral fat ratio (directly) were associated with proportion of Asian ethnicity, after adjusting for age, Tanner pubic hair stage, physical activity, and energy intake. In a multivariate analysis focusing on the trunk:peripheral fat ratio, this measure of central obesity was positively associated with proportion of Asian ethnicity (P = 0.001) and bi-iliac breadth (P = 0.002), and negatively associated with birth weight (P = 0.021), after adjustment for Tanner pubic hair stage, physical activity, energy intake, biacromial breadth, and height. In conclusion, Asian adolescents have a higher trunk:peripheral fat ratio than Whites.
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