Funding outcome

Every 90 minutes a small for gestational age (birthweight <10th percentile for gestational age) baby is born in Alberta. Many health professionals are concerned that diseases showing up in adult life, such as obesity, diabetes and heart diseases may start either before or just after babies are born. In contrast, science tells us that people's life styles such as smoking, obesity, and sedentary activity influence the development of these diseases. This study is the first in a series that will examine the association between size at birth and health outcomes later in life. We will conduct a thorough review of studies on the relationship between size at birth and adult onset diseases using a systematic approach. We believe that some early studies may have used a method of analyzing data that js not aligned with current approaches. To make conclusions about the origins of adult diseases, we need to reconsider those data through an updated scientific lens. Moving on to our own research, the first step will be to identify research for infants who were born prematurely and at term. Next we will use the new recommended methods to answer our question about whether the origin of these diseases is set in pregnancy or early life. We will share our research findings with other scientists, health care organizations and professionals as well as with the public at large. Our findings could change current practice guidelines for nutrition for those caring for infants and their families.