Prospective cohort studies of birth weight and risk of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in adulthood among the Chinese population

Abstract

The results suggest that LBW, an index of poor intrauterine nutrition, may affect health risks later in life in the Chinese population.

Response to Arredondo: Birth weight and social determinants in diabetes and hypertension

“…However, there is also evidence that malnutrition in early life may increase susceptibility through multiple biological mechanisms . In our study we observed a significant association of low birth weight with the risk of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, even after adjusting for most socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, such as education level, per capita income, smoking, alcohol consumption, and regular exercise, which mostly relieved our concern regarding the potential confounding effect of these factors.…”

“…We thank Dr Armando Arredondo for his response to our article evaluating the associations of birth weight with multiple anthropometric measurements and subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension in Chinese adults …”

Birth weight and social determinants in diabetes and hypertension

“…Despite the evidence presented by Xia et al, the fact remains that arguments continue in favor and against the effects of birth weight on health risks throughout life. Several factors can act as confounders of the relationship between birth weight and the risk of diabetes and hypertension in later life, including smoking habits, diseases during pregnancy, the nutritional status of the mother, and socioeconomic status.…”

“…In the best of cases, the evidence accumulated gives indications or suggests some kind of association between the variable birth weight and the development of chronic diseases, depending on the presence or absence of other variables. Such is the case of the study by Xia et al, which suggests that low birth weight can have consequences for health risks in adult life.…”

“…In this context, it is necessary to study social determinants and their association with birth weight and the prevalence of chronic diseases from a multidisciplinary perspective. Certainly, the results of Xia et al regarding the development of obesity and diabetes in Chinese adults who were born with a low birth weight could be associated more with social determinants that have not yet been studied as key risk factors, beyond low birth weight.…”