Birth weight

Baby weighed as AGA

WikiDoc Resources for Birth weight
Articles
Most recent articles on Birth weight Most cited articles on Birth weight Review articles on Birth weight Articles on Birth weight in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Birth weight Images of Birth weight Photos of Birth weight Podcasts & MP3s on Birth weight Videos on Birth weight
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Birth weight Bandolier on Birth weight TRIP on Birth weight
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Birth weight at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Birth weight Clinical Trials on Birth weight at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Birth weight NICE Guidance on Birth weight NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Birth weight CDC on Birth weight
Books
Books on Birth weight
News
Birth weight in the news Be alerted to news on Birth weight News trends on Birth weight
Commentary
Blogs on Birth weight
Definitions
Definitions of Birth weight
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Birth weight Discussion groups on Birth weight Patient Handouts on Birth weight Directions to Hospitals Treating Birth weight Risk calculators and risk factors for Birth weight
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Birth weight Causes & Risk Factors for Birth weight Diagnostic studies for Birth weight Treatment of Birth weight
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Birth weight
International
Birth weight en Espanol Birth weight en Francais
Business
Birth weight in the Marketplace Patents on Birth weight
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Birth weight

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

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. The incidence of birth weight being outside of the AGA is influenced by the parents in numerous ways, including:

• Genetics
• The health of the mother, particularly during the pregnancy
• Environmental factors
• Other factors, like multiple births, where each baby is likely to be outside the AGA, one more so than the other

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.

Conditions

Associated conditions include:

• Large for gestational age
• Small for gestational age

Influence on adult life

Studies have been conducted to investigate how a person's birth weight can influence aspects of their future life. This includes theorised links with obesity, diabetes and intelligence.

Obesity

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.

Diabetes

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

Intelligence

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

Effects on the mother

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

See also

• MOMO syndrome

References

it:Restrizione della crescita intrauterina nl:Geboortegewicht