Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2018 Mar;23(1):9-13.
doi: 10.6065/apem.2018.23.1.9. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

Small for gestational age and obesity: epidemiology and general risks

Hyo-Kyoung Nam  1 , Kee-Hyoung Lee  2
Affiliations
Review

Small for gestational age and obesity: epidemiology and general risks

Hyo-Kyoung Nam et al. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) have several life-long consequences. Previous epidemiological studies investigated from childhood to adulthood reported that a number of chronic diseases originate in the prenatal period. With the emerging era of obesity epidemic, more concerns are related to being obese than being short-statured in SGA children. The exact mechanisms are uncertain; however, growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor axis disturbance by fetal programming and accelerated postnatal weight gain contributed to central adiposity in SGA children. In this review, we summarized the definitions and prevalence of SGA, epidemiology, and general risks of obesity in SGA children. Early interventions, before and after birth, are needed for healthy catch-up growth to prevent later obesity and related complications.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Obesity; Small for gestational age.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Clayton PE, Cianfarani S, Czernichow P, Johannsson G, Rapaport R, Rogol A. Management of the child born small for gestational age through to adulthood: a consensus statement of the International Societies of Pediatric Endocrinology and the Growth Hormone Research Society. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:804–10. - PubMed
    1. McCowan L, Horgan RP. Risk factors for small for gestational age infants. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2009;23:779–93. - PubMed
    1. Ananth CV, Berkowitz GS, Savitz DA, Lapinski RH. Placental abruption and adverse perinatal outcomes. JAMA. 1999;282:1646–51. - PubMed
    1. Fowles ER. Prenatal nutrition and birth outcomes. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2004;33:809–22. - PubMed
    1. Hales CN, Barker DJ. Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus: the thrifty phenotype hypothesis. Diabetologia. 1992;35:595–601. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources