Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

881

Effect of low birth weight on women's health

Barbara T Alexander1, John Henry Dasinger1, Suttira Intapad1

  • 1Department of Physiology and Biophysics and the Women's Health Research Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi.

Clinical Therapeutics
|July 28, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight increases the risk of chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes in both men and women. It is also linked to earlier menopause, highlighting the need for further research on women

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Developmental Biology
  • Chronic Disease Epidemiology

Background:

  • The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) theory posits that low birth weight (LBW), indicative of poor fetal growth, elevates the risk of adult chronic noncommunicable diseases.
  • While LBW's association with conditions like hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and osteoporosis is established, the differential impact on women's health compared to men remains unclear.
  • Investigating the mechanisms linking fetal programming to later-life disease, considering sex and age influences, is crucial for understanding long-term health trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the existing literature on the impact of low birth weight on women's health.
  • To explore potential mechanisms underlying the increased risk of chronic diseases programmed by a poor fetal environment in females.
  • To provide insights into how sex and age modulate the risk of chronic disease across a woman's lifespan.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed.
  • Keywords included "low birth weight," "women's health," "female," and "sex differences."
  • Additional search terms encompassed various chronic diseases and physiological parameters such as blood pressure, hypertension, renal and cardiovascular function, obesity, glucose intolerance, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, bone health, reproductive senescence, menopause, and aging.

Main Results:

  • Low birth weight is significantly associated with major chronic diseases, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, impaired glucose homeostasis, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • Individuals with low birth weight also exhibit impaired bone mass, leading to osteoporosis.
  • Furthermore, low birth weight is linked to an increased risk of early reproductive aging and menopause.

Conclusions:

  • Low birth weight is a critical risk factor for developing chronic diseases in both men and women.
  • The association between low birth weight and an increased risk of early menopause in women warrants further investigation.
  • Additional research is necessary to fully elucidate the long-term effects of sex and age on developmental programming of adult health and disease in women throughout their lifespan.
Abstract

Keywords:
blood pressureearly menopauselow birth weightosteoporosistype 2 diabeteswomen’s health

More Related Videos

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis06:19

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

Published on: January 7, 2018

10.1K
Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography03:35

Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Published on: December 1, 2023

848

Related Concept Videos

Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
3.9K
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV01:26

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV

Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
364
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,...
62
Health Literacy01:21

Health Literacy

Health literacy is an individual's or a community's capacity to comprehend, receive, read, and use relevant healthcare information and services. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) defines health literacy as the cognitive and social skills that determine the ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. As a result, the WHO helps individuals manage long-term health concerns, participate in preventative...
4.6K
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...
6.3K
Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
2.0K