title: Birth weight and overweight/obesity in adults: a meta-analysis.
abstract: The objective of this study is to assess the association between birth weight and overweight/obesity in adults. The following MeSH terms were used: "birth weight," "obesity," "overweight." Fifteen studies involving a total of 211,457 persons were identified. Low birth weight (<2,500 g), as compared with normal birth weight (2,500-4,000 g), was not associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 0.94, 1.46). High birth weight (≥ 4,000 g), as compared with normal birth weight, was associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.27, 1.68). Low birth weight compared with normal birth weight, the total mean difference of BMI decreased 0.14 kg/m(2). High birth weight compared with normal birth weight, the total mean difference of BMI increased 0.76 kg/m(2). Low birth weight, as compared with a birth weight of ≥ 2,500 g, was not significantly associated with decreased risk of obesity (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 0.90-1.40). High birth weight, as compared with a birth weight of <4,000 g, was associated with increased risk of obesity (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.25-1.64). Low birth weight compared with birth weight ≥ 2,500 g, the total mean difference of BMI was decreased 0.42 kg/m(2); high birth weight compared with birth weight <4,000 g, the total mean difference of BMI was increased 0.79 kg/m(2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neither positively linear nor J- or U-shaped relations exist between birth weight and overweight/obesity in adults. It is high birth weight, not low birth weight, that is associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity in adults.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Su-Fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors