Study design of the Multicultural Community Health Assessment Trial (M-CHAT): a comparison of body fat distribution in four distinct populations.
OBJECTIVE
To outline the study design of the Multicultural Community Health Assessment Trial (M-CHAT). The purpose of the study is to compare the relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and total body fat in men and women of Aboriginal, Chinese, and South Asian origin with a similar group of men and women of European origin.


METHODS
A total of 200 apparently healthy men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 will be recruited from each of the local Aboriginal, Chinese, and South Asian and European communities. Within each sex/ethnic group, an equal representation of participants will have a body mass index between 18.5 to 24.9, 25 to 29.9 and >30. Each participant will undergo an assessment for VAT, total body fat, metabolic risk factors, physical activity, diet, quality of life, and sociodemographics.


METHODS
The primary outcome of this study is the relationship between VAT and total body fat in each of the Aboriginal, Chinese, and South Asian cohorts; this relationship will be compared to the European cohort after adjustment for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking status, physical activity, diet, and body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
This study will be the first to identify differences in body fat distribution in these populations. We anticipate that in populations of Aboriginal, Chinese, and South Asian origin, a greater proportion of total body fat will be deposited as VAT compared to those of European origin.
Lear
Scott A
SA
School of Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia. slear@providencehealth.bc.ca
Birmingham
C Laird
CL
Chockalingam
Arun
A
Humphries
Karin H
KH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001955:British Columbia; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged