title: Low Birth Weight and Risk of Later-Life Physical Disability in Women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is strong evidence that low and high birth weight due to in-utero programming results in elevated risk for adult diseases, though less research has been performed examining the influence of birth weight and physical disability later in life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline data from 76,055 postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative, a large multi-ethnic cohort, were used to examine the association between self-reported birth weight category (<6 lbs, 6-7 lbs 15 oz, 8-9 lbs 15 oz, and ≥10 lbs) and the self-reported physical functioning score on the RAND 36-item Health Survey. Linear regression models were adjusted for age, education, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and a comorbidity score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unadjusted models indicate that women born in the lowest and highest birth weight categories have significantly lower physical functioning scores as compared to women born in the normal weight category (β = -2.22, p < .0001 and β = -3.56, p < .0001, respectively). After adjustments, the relationship between the lowest birth weight category and physical functioning score remained significant (β = -1.52, p < .0001); however, the association with the highest birth weight category dissipated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preconception and prenatal interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of low birth weight infants may subsequently reduce the burden of later-life physical disability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Cassandra N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Spracklen
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Kelli K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ryckman
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Jennifer G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Stanford University, California.
authors.forename: Marcia L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stefanick
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
authors.forename: Gloria E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Sarto
authors.affiliation: Department of Aging and Geriatric Medicine, University of Florida, Gainsville.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Anton
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Birth weight; Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis; Physical disability; Physical functioning