title: Predictors and risks of body fat profiles in young New Zealand European, Māori and Pacific women: study protocol for the women's EXPLORE study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) is used internationally to assess body mass or adiposity. However, BMI does not discriminate body fat content or distribution and may vary among ethnicities. Many women with normal BMI are considered healthy, but may have an unidentified "hidden fat" profile associated with higher metabolic disease risk. If only BMI is used to indicate healthy body size, it may fail to predict underlying risks of diseases of lifestyle among population subgroups with normal BMI and different adiposity levels or distributions. Higher body fat levels are often attributed to excessive dietary intake and/or inadequate physical activity. These environmental influences regulate genes and proteins that alter energy expenditure/storage. Micro ribonucleic acid (miRNAs) can influence these genes and proteins, are sensitive to diet and exercise and may influence the varied metabolic responses observed between individuals. The study aims are to investigate associations between different body fat profiles and metabolic disease risk; dietary and physical activity patterns as predictors of body fat profiles; and whether these risk factors are associated with the expression of microRNAs related to energy expenditure or fat storage in young New Zealand women. Given the rising prevalence of obesity globally, this research will address a unique gap of knowledge in obesity research.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional design to investigate 675 NZ European, Māori, and Pacific women aged 16-45 years. Women are classified into three main body fat profiles (n = 225 per ethnicity; n = 75 per body fat profile): 1) normal BMI, normal body fat percentage (BF%); 2) normal BMI, high BF%; 3) high BMI, high BF%. Regional body composition, biomarkers of metabolic disease risk (i.e. fasting insulin, glucose, HbA1c, lipids), inflammation (i.e. IL-6, TNF-alpha, hs-CRP), associations between lifestyle factors (i.e. dietary intake, physical activity, taste perceptions) and microRNA expression will be investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research targets post-menarcheal, premenopausal women, potentially exhibiting lifestyle behaviours resulting in excess body fat affecting metabolic health. These behaviours may be characterised by specific patterns of microRNA expression that will be explored in terms of tailored solutions specific to body fat profile groups and ethnicities.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ACTRN12613000714785.
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rozanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sarah P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Shultz
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McNaughton
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Aaron P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Ridvan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Firestone
authors.affiliation: Office of Assistant Vice Chancellor Māori, Pacific & New Migrants, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Cathryn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Conlon
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Pamela R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: von Hurst
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Breier
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Shakeela N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Jayasinghe
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Wendy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: Institute of Information and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand ; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Food and Nutrition Flagship, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Welma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stonehouse
keywords: Body fat profile; Dietary practices; Metabolic disease risk; MicroRNA; Overweight and obesity; Physical activity; Predictors; Taste perception; Women
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