Is abdominal adiposity in healthy Sri Lankan neonates different from the rest of the world?

Background and Objectives: Adiposity at birth is a predictor of childhood obesity. Abdominal circumference (AC) at birth has been shown to correlate well with visceral adipose tissue and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Adiposity differs according to ethnicity and geography. The aim of this study was to describe the anthropometry derived adiposity phenotype in neonates from Colombo, Sri Lanka and compare it with global data. Methods and Study Design: Birth anthropometry was performed within 12-24 hours by the same investigator as part of a prospective cohort study on healthy term babies, at a tertiary care hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2015- 2019. The anthropometry derived adiposity phenotype was indicated by skinfold thickness, AC and upper arm fat area (UFA) derived from the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Results: Sri Lankan neonates had a significantly lower weight with significantly higher AC (n=337, 2.9+-0.4 kg, 30.6+-2.3 cm) compared to Canadian (n=389, 3.5+-0.02 kg, 29.9+-2.1 cm; p