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A high birth weight is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity
Author(s) -
Johnsson I. W.,
Haglund B.,
Ahlsson F.,
Gustafsson J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pediatric obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.226
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 2047-6310
pISSN - 2047-6302
DOI - 10.1111/ijpo.230
Subject(s) - medicine , hazard ratio , birth weight , obesity , confidence interval , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , body mass index , obstetrics , endocrinology , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Summary Background The association between low birth weight and adult disease is well known. Less is known on long‐term effects of high birth weight. Objective This study aims to investigate whether a high birth weight increases risk for adult metabolic disease. Methods Swedish term single births, 1973–1982 ( n = 759 999), were studied to age 27.5–37.5 years using Swedish national registers. Hazard ratios ( HR s) were calculated in relation to birth weight for type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Results Men with birth weights between 2 and 3 standard deviation score ( SDS ) had a 1.9‐fold increased risk ( HR 1.91, 95% confidence interval [ CI ] 1.25–2.90) of type 2 diabetes, whereas those with birth weights above 3 SDS had a 5.4‐fold increased risk ( HR 5.44, 95% CI 2.70–10.96) compared to men with birth weights between −2 and 2 SDS . The corresponding HRs for women were 0.60 (95% CI 0.40–0.91) and 1.71 (95% CI 0.85–3.43) for birth weights 2–3 SDS and >3 SDS , respectively. Men with birth weights between 2 and 3 SDS had a 1.5‐fold increased risk ( HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.22–1.77) of obesity. The corresponding risk for women was 1.3‐fold increased ( HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.19–1.46). For men and women with birth weights above 3 SDS , the risks of adult obesity were higher, HR 2.46 (95% CI 1.63–3.71) and HR 1.85 (95% CI 1.44–2.37), respectively. Conclusions A high birth weight, particularly very high, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes in male young adults. The risk of obesity increases with increasing birth weight in both genders.