Biological vulnerability in infants with failure to thrive: the association with birthweight

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 3, 2026

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
05:44

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Published on: May 17, 2024

D K Steward1

  • 1RN and College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. steward.20@osu.edu

Child: Care, Health and Development
|December 12, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Lower birthweight in full-term infants is linked to failure to thrive (FTT). Unrecognized intrauterine growth retardation may increase FTT risk in these infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Failure to thrive (FTT) is a complex condition influenced by biological and environmental factors.
  • Birthweight is a key biological indicator potentially associated with infant growth failure.
  • Studies show infants with FTT and full-term birthweights have significantly lower birthweights compared to healthy controls.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of birthweight as a potential precursor to the development of failure to thrive.
  • To investigate the hypothesis that a subgroup of full-term infants with unrecognized intrauterine growth retardation may be at higher risk for FTT.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of birthweights between infants diagnosed with FTT and healthy control infants.
  • Review of existing evidence on intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and its impact on full-term newborns.
  • Discussion of behavioral vulnerability in infants with varying degrees of growth restriction.

Main Results:

  • Infants with FTT who were full-term at birth exhibited significantly lower birthweights (M = 2959 g) than healthy controls (M = 3364 g).
  • Evidence suggests a subgroup of full-term infants may have unrecognized intrauterine growth retardation despite birthweights above the 2500 g threshold.

Conclusions:

  • Birthweight is a critical factor to consider in the etiology of failure to thrive.
  • Unrecognized intrauterine growth retardation in full-term infants may represent a significant risk factor for developing FTT.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the behavioral implications and long-term outcomes for this unrecognized group.

More Related Videos

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice04:18

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Published on: October 10, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Physical Growth During Infancy and Toddlerhood01:18

Physical Growth During Infancy and Toddlerhood

Physical growth is especially rapid during the first three years of life, with the greatest rate in the first few months after birth. Although children continue to gain height and weight throughout infancy and toddlerhood, the rate of growth gradually slows during the second and third years. At most ages, boys are typically slightly taller and heavier than girls, reflecting a common pattern of early physical development.Changes in Body ProportionsAs infants become toddlers, their body...
Anatomy of the Intestines01:53

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.Small IntestinesThe small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small intestine...
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...