Singaporean Chinese adolescents have more subcutaneous adipose tissue than Dutch Caucasians of the same age and body mass index

Data on weight, height and skinfold thickness (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac) of 101 Singaporean Chinese adolescents (49 girls and 52 boys), aged 16-18 years, were compared with data of Dutch Caucasians (52 girls, 37 boys) of the same age. Age did not differ between the sexes in each ethnic group or between the ethnic groups within each sex group. The Chinese females were shorter, lighter and had a lower BMI, but the sum (mean +/- SD) of four skinfolds was much higher (69.1 +/- 15.4 mm) than in Caucasian girls (52.4 +/- 17.8 min). Also, the Chinese boys were shorter and lighter, but their body mass index was not lower compared to Caucasian boys. Their skinfold thickness was, as in girls, much higher compared to Caucasians (48.8 +/- 17.0 mm versus 31.1 +/- 10.2 mm). After correcting for (non significant) differences in age and skinfold thickness the Chinese adolescent girls had a 3.3 +/- 0.4 kg/m(2) (mean +/- SE) lower body mass index than their Caucasian counterparts. Singapore Chinese boys had a 2.7 +/- 0.4 kg/m(2) lower body mass index (mean +/- SE) than their Caucasian counterparts. Similarly, predicted body fat percent was 5.8 +/- 0.6 percent points higher (mean +/- SE) in Singapore Chinese girls compared to their Caucasian counterparts of the same age and body mass index. Singapore Chinese boys had 6.0 +/- 0.6 percent more body fat percent (mean +/- SE) than Caucasians of the same age and body mass index. The data confirm the high body fat percent/low body mass index relationship in Singaporean Chinese as is reported earlier in the literature for adults and children.