Background: Obesity is common among African American and Hispanic children. Body mass index (BMI) is a more frequently reported measure of obesity than others, such as waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), which focuses on central obesity. We used 4 anthropometric measures to assess obesity and to characterize its relationships with children's characteristics, including age, sex, country of birth, ethnicity, and physical activity among children attending NYC Head Start. Methods: We analyzed baseline data from the Endotoxin Obesity and Asthma longitudinal study, in which mothers answered a demographic questionnaire about their child. We obtained anthropometric measurements (weight, height, skinfold thickness (SFT), and waist circumference) from children and calculated BMI, triceps and subscapular zscores, and WHtR. Results: Of 380 children, mean age 48 months, 50% were female. 25% of Mexican origin, 18% Dominican, 19% African American, 15% Puerto Rican, and 23% Other. Overall, 44% were above the 85th percentile for BMI. 75% had WHtR greater than 0.5 (obesity). Mean triceps SFT was at the 49th percentile and mean subscapular SFT at the 52nd percentile for age and sex. Children did not differ on BMI or subscapular SFTs by ethnic background. Mexican children had greater triceps z-scores (p=0.03) and WHtR (p<0.001) than others. Age was positively associated with subscapular z-score (p=0.02) and negatively associated with WHtR (p<0.001). US-born children had higher BMI z-scores than others. Conclusions: Overall, the adiposity profiles of children in the sample were poor but consistent with national data. Few factors were associated with adiposity measures, but Mexican origin was a risk factor for obesity.