Our equation requires only one skinfold site measurement, which can significantly reduce time and effort. It does not require the input of ethnicity and, thus, aid its application to other Asian neonatal populations.

The aims of this study were to develop and validate a prediction equation of fat-free mass (FFM) based on bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometry using air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) as a reference in Asian neonates and to test the applicability of the prediction equations in an independent Western cohort. A total of 173 neonates at birth and 140 at two weeks of age were included. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to develop the prediction equations in a two-third randomly selected subset and validated on the remaining one-third subset at each time point and in an independent Queensland cohort. FFM measured by ADP was the dependent variable, and anthropometric measures, sex and impedance quotient (L 2 /R 50 ) were independent variables in the model. Accuracy of prediction equations was assessed using intra-class correlation and Bland-Altman analyses. L 2 /R 50 was the significant predictor of FFM at week two but not at birth. Compared with the model using weight, sex and length, including L 2 /R 50 slightly improved the prediction with a bias of 0·01 kg with 2 SD limits of agreement (LOA) (0·18, −0·20). Prediction explained 88·9 % of variation but not beyond that of anthropometry. Applying these equations to the Queensland cohort provided similar performance at the appropriate age. However, when the Queensland equations were applied to our cohort, the bias increased

A continuous relationship between maternal glycemia and excessive neonatal adiposity extends across the range of maternal glycemia. Compared with Chinese infants, Indian infants may be less susceptible to excessive adiposity from high maternal glucose levels.