Is body fat percentage a better measure of undernutrition in newborns than birth weight percentiles?

A new study published on the prestigious Pediatric Research Journal shows that infant morbidity can be predicted more accurately from %fat vs. birth weight.

The objective of this study (carried out by Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia) was to describe neonatal morbidity associated with low body fat percentage (BF%) and measure the number of undernourished neonates defined by BF% and compare this with birth weight percentiles (<10th). Air displacement plethysmography (ADP) with the PEA POD was used as it was considered the only option to noninvasively, accurately, and quickly measure BF% in infants from birth to 6 mo of age.

The article finds that "measuring BF% is more closely associated with identification of neonates at risk of neonatal morbidity as compared with birth weight percentiles. BF% measurements could assist with identifying neonates who are appropriately grown yet undernourished and exclude small neonates not at risk."

The article details are the following:

- Title: "Is body fat percentage a better measure of undernutrition in newborns than birth weight percentiles?"
- Authors: Angela E. Carberry, Camille H. Raynes-Greenow, Robin M. Turner, Lisa M. Askie and Heather E. Jeffery - Newborn Care, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Published in:Pediatr Res. 2013 Sep 3

The article can be seen at the following link: click here