Maternal lean body mass may be the major determinant of birth weight: a study from India

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Abstract
This study explored the relationship of maternal body composition parameters to the birth weight of the offspring. Maternal anthropometric parameters (weight, height) and body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry were measured in 76 women from low-income group during 12–21 days postpartum. The means.d. height, weight of the mothers and birth weight of the newborns were 151.55.29 cm, 46.76.04 and 2.840.358 kg, respectively. When the relationship of maternal anthropometric and body composition parameters to the infants' birth weight was studied, maternal lean body mass was found to be the most important determinant of birth weight (R2 (%)=21.3) (P<0.001). This study highlights the importance of increasing lean body mass in young women for better pregnancy outcome.

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