04 Jun Birth Weights of Baby Boys Has Remained Stable Over Several Decades

Posted at 00:20h in Author Interviews, Pediatrics, Weight Research by

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Jimmy Celind Postgraduate student The Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg

Jimmy Celind

Jimmy Celind
Postgraduate student
The Sahlgrenska Academy
University of Gothenburg

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: The background is that there is a widespread belief that birth weights are increasing, and that this at least partly is a product of the obesity epidemic (together with decreased smoking prevalence and higher maternal age). Several studies from countries such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, USA, Scotland, Israel and Australia have shown a slight increase during the last decades of the 20th century. Our aim was to see when the increase started and how much it had increased.

Our main findings are that the trends of birth weight are stable during the study period of 65 years (1946-2011), regarding mean, distribution, and odds ratios for being born with a high birth weight (>4,5 kg) per birth year increment.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: That the increase described by others is present in our data as well, but in our longer perspective this increase represents a periodic fluctuation rather than a ongoing trend. That there are factors that can reduce/eliminate the known impact of overweight and obesity on birth weight.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: That birth weights needs to be evaluated in longer perspectives than a few decades. That the factors that can reduce/eliminate the obesity effect on birth weights need to be explored.

Maybe the good and communal maternal health controls in Sweden, with evidence based follow up and intervention of gestational weight gain and gestational diabetes has a wider impact of public health than what is now believed.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:
Abstract presented at the June 2016 European Obesity Congress
Birth weight of boys has remained stable despite the obesity epidemic
European Obesity Summit 2016; June 2, 2016; Gothenburg, Sweden. Poster PP1.08.

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on June 4, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

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