A new study has revealed that Māori and Pacific babies in New Zealand, while bigger than their Pakeha and Asian counterparts, are leaner.
The first study of the body composition of New Zealand's newborns revealed this surprise, which researchers say could refocus early healthcare.
While Māori and Pacific babies were longer, had larger heads and were heavier than Asian babies, their extra weight was found to come from fat-free mass like bones, muscles and organs.
Study lead, Tanith Alexander, is a PhD student at the Liggins Institute and a dietician at Middlemore Hospital.
She told Koro Vaka'uta what triggered the research.
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