**1. Introduction**

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There is considerable body of evidence to suggest that the effect of obesity as a major risk factor of chronic diseases differ due to variation in genetic predisposition and ethnic differences. This is due probably to the difference in body habitus and the distribution of adipose tissue. It is shown that Asians have a higher proportion of abdominal obesity compared to other ethnic groups and carry greater risk for diabetes, hypertension and coronary vascular diseases at a lower level of body mass index(BMI) compared to other populations. [1-3]. Japanese are reported to carry twice the risk of developing diabetes at all levels of BMI compared to Caucasians [4]. Therefore with a wide variety of studies reporting the importance of ethnicity playing an important role in the distribution of total body fat has created a need to identify a biomarker(s) or risk marker for ethnic heterogeneity in the development of chronic diseases.

In this regard adipocytokines adiponectin, leptin and resistin are considered as potential candidates to delineate the mechanisms involved in such ethnic differences related to chronic diseases. Adiponectin and leptin are reported to show reciprocal relationship with increasing adiposity. It is demonstrated that adiponectin levels reflect visceral adiposity and leptin the subcutaneous one. It is also reported that serum adiponectin levels are lower in Chinese, Malay, Japanese, Koreans, south Asians compared to Caucasians. [5]There is another adipo‐ cytokine which is related to adiposity. This adipocytokine was reported to resist the action of insulin and so it is named as Resistin. It is shown that Resistin is present more in visceral adipose tissue compared to other fat depots and a diet rich in fat induces greater secretion of resistin.[6] The adiponectin, leptin and resistin trio could be the biomarkers of ethnic hetero‐ geneity.

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Obesity is a major public health concern of Libya with higher prevalence of obesity related diseases hypertension, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and coronary vascular disease.[7] Therefore, the present preliminary study was undertaken in Libyan subjects with their unique ethnicity, life style and cultural habits to demonstrate whether such differences occur in serum adipo‐ nectin, leptin and resistin levels in relation to adiposity particularly visceral adiposity. It was shown that BMI and Waist circumference could be taken as markers of subcutaneous obesity and abdominal obesity respectively. Along with these anthropometric measurements glycemic status, lipid profile were studied and correlated with adiponectin, leptin and resistin levels in obese and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) subjects.
