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Birth weight and overweight/obesity in adults: a meta-analysis

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Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the association between birth weight and overweight/obesity in adults. The following MeSH terms were used: “birth weight,” “obesity,” “overweight.” Fifteen studies involving a total of 211,457 persons were identified. Low birth weight (<2,500 g), as compared with normal birth weight (2,500–4,000 g), was not associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 0.94, 1.46). High birth weight (≥4,000 g), as compared with normal birth weight, was associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.27, 1.68). Low birth weight compared with normal birth weight, the total mean difference of BMI decreased 0.14 kg/m2. High birth weight compared with normal birth weight, the total mean difference of BMI increased 0.76 kg/m2. Low birth weight, as compared with a birth weight of ≥2,500 g, was not significantly associated with decreased risk of obesity (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 0.90–1.40). High birth weight, as compared with a birth weight of <4,000 g, was associated with increased risk of obesity (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.25–1.64). Low birth weight compared with birth weight ≥2,500 g, the total mean difference of BMI was decreased 0.42 kg/m2; high birth weight compared with birth weight <4,000 g, the total mean difference of BMI was increased 0.79 kg/m2. Conclusion: Neither positively linear nor J- or U-shaped relations exist between birth weight and overweight/obesity in adults. It is high birth weight, not low birth weight, that is associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity in adults.

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Acknowledgments

This study was fully supported by the Department of Nutrition, the School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, China.

Conflict of interest

The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest. Authors have no financial relationship with the organization that sponsored the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China

    Yan Zhao, Su-Fang Wang, Min Mu & Jie Sheng

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  1. Yan Zhao
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  2. Su-Fang Wang
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Correspondence to Su-Fang Wang.

Appendices

Appendix S1

Table 2 Birth weight and overweight/obesity: assessment of quality of studies
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Appendix S2

Table 3 Birth weight and overweight/obesity: sensitivity analysis (mean difference)
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Appendix S3

Table 4 Birth weight and overweight/obesity: sensitivity analysis (odds ratios)
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Zhao, Y., Wang, SF., Mu, M. et al. Birth weight and overweight/obesity in adults: a meta-analysis. Eur J Pediatr 171, 1737–1746 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1701-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1701-0

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