Objective:To identify differences in association among visceral fat, body mass index, and waist circumference in Hans and Tibetans, and to investigate the associations between visceral adipose tissue and adipokine concentrations in the two ethnics.Methods:This is a mono-centric, cross-sectional observational study including 148 Hans and 150 Tibetans between 18 and 65 years old. The multivariate regression analysis was used in the study.Results:After adjustment of confounders, every 1 kg/m 2 increment of body mass index was coexisted with a larger increment of visceral adipose tissue in Han ethnic group than that in Tibetan [ β: 6.87(95% CI 4.25-9.49) vs 4.84(95% CI 2.57-7.11), P<0.01]. And increased waist circumference with 1 cm was accompanied by larger increment of visceral adipose tissue in Hans than in Tibetans [ β: 4.02(95% CI 3.15-4.89) vs 2.06(95% CI 1.75-3.44), P<0.01]. Tibetan ethnic group had higher levels of adiponectin and leptin than Han ethnic group [(57.06±32.52 vs 75.56±43.95) ng/ml, P<0.01; (98.55±100.46 vs 124.83±111.97) pg/ml, P=0.024]. After adjustment, significant association was documented between adiponectin levels and the presence of metabolic syndrome in Tibetans ( OR=0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, P=0.007), whereas no association was observed in Hans ( OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.98-1.01, P=0.268). Conclusions:The ethnicity significantly affects the adipose distribution, with the same increase of body mass index or waist circumference, the Tibetans′ increase of visceral adipose tissue is less than that of Hans. The two ethnic groups may have their own unique metabolic characteristics.