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The Factors That Influence Birth Weight

Birth weight is the weight of a baby at its birth. It has direct links with the gestational age at which the child was born and can be estimated during the pregnancy by measuring fundal height. A baby born within the normal range of weight for that gestational age is known as appropriate for gestational age (AGA).

Those born above or below that range have often had an unusual rate of development this often indicates complications with the pregnancy that may affect the baby or its mother.

There have been numerous studies that have attempted, with varying degrees of success, to show links between birth weight and later-life conditions, including diabetes, obesity, tobacco smoking and intelligence.

A baby born small or large for gestational age (either of the two extremes) is thought to have an increased risk of obesity in later life.[1][2][3]

GH therapy at a certain dose induced catch-up of lean body mass (LBM). However percentage body fat decreased in the GH-treated subjects. Bone mineral density SDS measured by DEXA increased significantly in the GH-treated group compared to the untreated subjects, though there is much debate over whether or not SGA is significantly adverse to children to warrant inducing catch-up.

Babies that have a low birth weight are thought to have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in later life.

Some studies have shown a direct link between an increased birth weight and an increased intelligence quotient.

There is some evidence of a link between a child's birth weight and its mother's risk of cardiovascular disease.

Barker's Hypothesis is named after David J. P. Barker a researcher at the University of Southampton who published the theory in 1997.

The theory states that reduced fetal growth is strongly associated with a number of chronic conditions later in life. This increased susceptibility results from adaptations made by the fetus in an environment limited in its supply of nutrients. These chronic conditions include coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and hypertension.

Large for gestational age (LGA) babies are those whose birth weight lies above the 90th percentile for that gestational age. Macrosomia, also known as big baby syndrome, is sometimes used synonymously with LGA, or is otherwise defined as a fetus that weighs above 4000 grams (8 lb 13 oz) or 4500 grams (9 lb 15 oz) regardless of gestational age.

LGA is generally not diagnosed until after the birth, as the size and weight of the child is rarely checked during the latter stages of pregnancy. Babies that are large for gestational age throughout the pregnancy can sometimes be seen during a routine ultrasound, although fetal weight estimations late in pregnancy are quite imprecise.

There are believed to be links with polyhydramnios (excessive amniotic sac fluid).

Small for gestational age (SGA) babies are those whose birth weight lies below the 10th percentile for that gestational age. They have usually been the subject of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), formerly known as intrauterine growth retardation.

Low birth weight (LBW), is sometimes used synonymously with SGA, or is otherwise defined as a fetus that weighs less than 2500 g (5 lb 8 oz) regardless of gestational age. Other definitions include Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) which is less than 1500 g, and Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) which is less than 1000 g.

There is a 8.1% incidence of low birth weight in developed countries, and 6 to 30% in developing countries. Much of this can be attributed to the health of the mother during pregnancy. One third of babies born with a low birth weight are also small for gestational age.

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