Original scientific paper
THE RELATIONSHIP OF BIRTH WEIGHT AND LENGHT TO WEIGHT, HEIGHT AND BODY MASS INDEX IN ADULT WOMEN
Tomislav Miletić
Frane Mikulandra
Eugenio Stoini
Jozo Anić
Mila Periša
Nelka Tomić
Abstract
Objective. To examine the realationship of birth weight and birth lenght to body weight, body height and body mass index (BMI kg/m2) in adult women. Subjects and Methods. The mean age (years), birth weight (g), birth lenght (cms), adult body weight (kg), height (cms) and BMI kg/m2 for 735 healthy women were determined. BMI values up to 19.9 were considered low, from 20.0 to 24.9 normal (ideal), from 25.0 to 29.9 high (overweight) and from 30.0 very high (very overweight, obese). Statistical analysis was performed using arithmetic mean (x), standard deviation (SD), 2-test with n X m contingency tables, null-hypothesis and analysis of variance. The difference reached significance at the p<0.05 level. Results. The adult women, whose mean age is 27.86±5.4 years, had a mean birth weight of 3490.2±544.2 g and a mean birth length of 51.41±3.76 cms. Their mean weight was 64.03±9.32 kg, height 169.9±11.9 cms and the mean BMI 22.77±6.74 kg/m2. Increasing birth weight (by groups) and length (by groups) resulted in increasing adult body weight, height and BMI (p<0.009). With increasing birth weight the incidence of adult women with a low BMI decreased (p<0.001), whereas the incidence of those with high BMI increased (p<0.001). Increasing birth length had no influence on the incidence¬ of adult women with either low, moderate, high or very high BMI (p<0.05). 19.7% of the subjects had low, 64.0 moderate (ideal), 15.0% high and 1.4% very high BMI. Conclusion. The positive correlation exists of birth weight (by groups) and birth length (by groups) and the mean body weight, height and BMI in adult women. Birth length plays no role in the incidence of adult women by BMI groups. A high incidence of obese and extremely obese young adult women is observed.
Keywords
birth weight; birth lenghts; weight; height; BMI adult women
Hrčak ID:
15570
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2004.
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