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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Birthweight curves in southern Israel populations
J R Leiberman1, D Fraser, S Weitzman
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Insights
This study established standard birthweights for Jewish and Bedouin infants, finding significant differences between populations and sexes after 36 weeks gestation. Local data is crucial for accurate growth assessment.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Human Genetics
Background:
- Accurate birthweight standards are essential for diagnosing fetal growth abnormalities and assessing perinatal outcomes.
- Existing birthweight curves, like the Colorado standard, may not accurately reflect diverse populations.
- Gestational age confirmation is critical for reliable birthweight analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish standard birthweight ranges for Jewish and Bedouin infants across different gestational ages.
- To compare these population-specific birthweights with established international standards.
- To inform clinical practice regarding fetal growth assessment in these populations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 5.5 years of computerized delivery files from a specific region.
- Inclusion of only infants with strictly confirmed gestational age.
- Calculation of percentile distributions for birthweights stratified by ethnicity, sex, and gestational age.
Main Results:
- Mean birthweight for males was 3,238g (SD 529g) and for females was 3,117g (SD 504g).
- Jewish infants were significantly heavier than Bedouin infants from 36 to 41 weeks gestation, especially in first-time mothers.
- Male infants were heavier than female infants after 36 weeks gestation in both populations.
Conclusions:
- Significant ethnic and sex-based variations in infant birthweights exist within the studied populations.
- The findings highlight the limitations of using non-local birthweight standards for accurate growth assessment.
- There is a clear need for locally derived and regularly updated birthweight data for optimal perinatal care.
Abstract:
With the aim of establishing a standard range of birthweights at different gestational ages for Jewish and Bedouin populations, we analyzed 5.5 years of computerized delivery files. Strictly confirmed gestational age was required in this study. This is necessary for proper diagnosis of growth abnormalities, such as growth retardation and macrosomia, for research purposes and for assessment of perinatal morbidity and mortality at a given gestational age. Percentile distributions of birthweights of 46,529 infants are presented. The mean birthweight of male infants was 3,238 g (SD 529 g) and of female infants was 3,117 g (SD 504 g). From week 36 to week 41 of gestation, infants of Jewish mothers were significantly heavier than infants born to Bedouin women, particularly in primiparous women. In both Jewish and Bedouin births, male infants were significantly heavier than female infants after the 36th week of gestation, by 130 g in the former and 127 g in the latter. Although the set of birthweight percentile curves of Jews and Bedouins was similar to the Colorado birthweight curve, some differences were found. At 41 and 42 weeks of pregnancy our infants were heavier and exceeded the standard, whereas at weeks 35 to 38 the standard exceeded the median weight of the Bedouin infants. The differences between our population curves and the commonly used Colorado standard curve emphasize the need for locally based and periodically updated infant birthweight data.
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