Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

[Birth weight and metabolic syndrome in adults: meta-analysis]

Vera Maria Freitas da Silveira1, Bernardo Lessa Horta

  • 1Programa de Pós graduação em Epidemiologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil. veramfs@terra.com.br

Revista De Saude Publica
|January 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight significantly increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome in adulthood. This meta-analysis confirms a strong association between reduced fetal growth and later metabolic health issues.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)

Background:

  • Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
  • Intrauterine growth and birth weight are potential early life determinants of adult metabolic health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze existing evidence on the association between birth weight and metabolic syndrome in adults.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and LILACS databases (1966-2006).
  • Eleven eligible studies providing odds ratios were included in the meta-analysis.
  • Search terms included "birth weight" and "metabolic syndrome" and related concepts.

Main Results:

  • A significant inverse relationship was observed between birth weight and metabolic syndrome across most studies.
  • Individuals with low birth weight had a 2.53 times higher odds of developing metabolic syndrome compared to normal birth weight individuals.
  • Results remained significant even after accounting for potential publication bias and in analyses of larger studies.

Conclusions:

  • Low birth weight is a critical risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome in adulthood.
  • Early life factors, such as fetal growth, have long-lasting implications for metabolic health.
  • Further research may explore specific interventions targeting individuals with low birth weight.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Pulse-Wave Velocity, Flow-Mediated Dilation, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Assess Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Metabolic Syndrome06:04

Pulse-Wave Velocity, Flow-Mediated Dilation, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Assess Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Metabolic Syndrome

Published on: September 27, 2024

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 105:44

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

Related Concept Videos

Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications01:15

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is based on...
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction01:26

Type II Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...