Low Birth Weight Study

A study has found that those born with a low birth weight are less likely to take part in exercise in later life.

The unique study monitored a group of people born within the same week of March 1946 and in particular, those born weighing 5.5 pounds or less.  Whilst previously, it has been found that low birth weight affects sporting ability and levels at a younger age, this is the first study to show that the trend continues across adulthood between the ages 36 and 68.

They are now going to assess the social and developmental factors that may explain more about these findings. The lead author of the study, Ahmed Elhakeen, commented: “We know that regular exercise provides many health benefits, including a longer life, so it’s important that parents, teachers and doctors recognise that those born with a low birth weight might require more support than others in order to achieve sustained physical activity throughout their lives.”
The study has been published in the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise journal and is available here.