title: Is body fat percentage a better measure of undernutrition in newborns than birth weight percentiles?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Undernutrition in neonates increases the risk of serious morbidities. The objective of this study 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).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligibility included term (≥37 wk) neonates. BF% measurements were undertaken by air displacement plethysmography. Data on neonatal outcomes were extracted from medical records and used to develop a measure of neonatal morbidity. We assessed the association between neonatal morbidity and population-based birth weight percentiles compared with the BF% measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred and eighty-one neonates were included. Low BF% was defined by 1 SD below the mean and identified in 73 per 1,000 live births. Neonatal morbidity was found in 3.4% of neonates. Birth weight percentile was associated with neonatal morbidity (odds ratio (OR): 1.03 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.05); P = <0.001). BF% was associated with a higher risk of neonatal morbidity (OR: 1.30 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.47); P = <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population, 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.
authors.affiliation: 1] Newborn Care, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia [2] Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Carberry
authors.affiliation: Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Camille H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Raynes-Greenow
authors.affiliation: Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Askie
authors.affiliation: 1] Newborn Care, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia [2] Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Heather E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Jeffery
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology