ID :
50720
Mon, 03/16/2009 - 13:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/50720
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AUSSIE BABIES BECOMING BIGGER - STUDY
By Neville D'Cruz
MELBOURNE, March 16 (Bernama)-- Australian babies are becoming increasingly
big bundles of joy, but health experts warn it's not always something to be
happy about.
A positive decline in smoking during pregnancy -- resulting in less low
birth weight babies - has occurred since 1990, according to a study that took in
almost 1.3 million births.
Mothers with gestational diabetes, resulting in heavier babies, also rose
and these two factors contributed to a rising rate of newborns weighing in at
more than four kilogrammes.
The Australian Associated Press said a study, published in the Medical
Journal of Australia, looked at babies born in the Australian state of New South
Wales in the 16 years to 2005.
Dr Ruth Hadfield, who conducted the study with her University of Sydney
colleagues, said heavier babies had increased health risks, contrary to the
popular notion that big babies were healthy babies.
"For example, there is evidence of a relationship between high birth weight
and the increased future risk of asthma, type-one diabetes and a number of
cancers, including infant and childhood leukaemia, and breast, prostate and
colon cancer," said Dr Hadfield, who is postdoctoral research fellow at the
University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital.
"As well as the potential for lifelong health consequences, higher birth
weights may also result in injury to the infant and the mother, at the time of
delivery."
During the 16-year study period, newborn boys weighing in at more than 4kg
increased 10.5 per cent. For newborn girls, the figure was 15.2 per cent.
In 2005, one in six newborn boys and one in 10 newborn girls tipped the
scales at over 4kg.
Another contributing factor was the fact more women were waiting later in
life to have children, but Dr Hadfield also said, not all of the increase could
be accounted for.
"Although decreasing smoking, increasing maternal age and increasing
gestational diabetes account for a portion of the increase, a larger portion of
the increase remains unexplained by our data," she said.
-- BERNAMA
MELBOURNE, March 16 (Bernama)-- Australian babies are becoming increasingly
big bundles of joy, but health experts warn it's not always something to be
happy about.
A positive decline in smoking during pregnancy -- resulting in less low
birth weight babies - has occurred since 1990, according to a study that took in
almost 1.3 million births.
Mothers with gestational diabetes, resulting in heavier babies, also rose
and these two factors contributed to a rising rate of newborns weighing in at
more than four kilogrammes.
The Australian Associated Press said a study, published in the Medical
Journal of Australia, looked at babies born in the Australian state of New South
Wales in the 16 years to 2005.
Dr Ruth Hadfield, who conducted the study with her University of Sydney
colleagues, said heavier babies had increased health risks, contrary to the
popular notion that big babies were healthy babies.
"For example, there is evidence of a relationship between high birth weight
and the increased future risk of asthma, type-one diabetes and a number of
cancers, including infant and childhood leukaemia, and breast, prostate and
colon cancer," said Dr Hadfield, who is postdoctoral research fellow at the
University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital.
"As well as the potential for lifelong health consequences, higher birth
weights may also result in injury to the infant and the mother, at the time of
delivery."
During the 16-year study period, newborn boys weighing in at more than 4kg
increased 10.5 per cent. For newborn girls, the figure was 15.2 per cent.
In 2005, one in six newborn boys and one in 10 newborn girls tipped the
scales at over 4kg.
Another contributing factor was the fact more women were waiting later in
life to have children, but Dr Hadfield also said, not all of the increase could
be accounted for.
"Although decreasing smoking, increasing maternal age and increasing
gestational diabetes account for a portion of the increase, a larger portion of
the increase remains unexplained by our data," she said.
-- BERNAMA
