Birth weight increases with birth order despite decreasing maternal pregnancy weight gain

Bohn, Claudia; Vogel, Mandy; Poulain, Tanja; Spielau, Ulrike; Hilbert, Cornelia; Kieß, Wieland; Körner, Antje

doi:10.1111/apa.15598

Cited by 19 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Mothers of first-born children had the lowest prepregnancy BMI ( Table 2 ). As previously shown [ 25 ], maternal pregnancy weight gain was significantly lower (p<0.001) with increasing birth order. The prepregnancy BMI of mothers of only children, second- and third-or-later-born children was comparable.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 84%

Having siblings promotes a more healthy weight status—Whereas only children are at greater risk for higher BMI in later childhood

et al. 2022

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Background Birth order and having at least one sibling are known to be associated with an increased risk for development of overweight. However, there are no studies assessing pre- and postnatal factors for developing overweight within families. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyse the association of the mother’s weight gain during pregnancy, prepregnancy BMI, mother’s age at birth, breastfeeding, age gap between siblings, and physical activity together with sibling-related characteristics on the development of overweight in children and adolescents. Methods Data were obtained from the longitudinal LIFE Child cohort. The study sample included n = 1932 children, stratified into first-born (n = 578), second-born (n = 608), third-or-later-born single-born siblings (n = 162), only children (n = 526), and twin children (n = 58). Children with chronic or syndromic diseases, born prematurely or from mothers with gestational diabetes were excluded. Data were adjusted for multiple children per family using mixed models. Pregnancy weight gain, prepregnancy BMI and mother’s age were considered prenatal co-variates. Postnatal factors included the duration of breastfeeding and the children’s physical activity level. Results Particularly until the onset of puberty, the BMI-SDS differed between single-born siblings, only children and twins, and increased with birth order. Compared to children with siblings, only children exhibited a strong increase in BMI-SDS starting at age nine. A higher age gap between siblings was associated with a higher BMI-SDS in second- and third-or-later-born children. Single-born siblings had the highest rate and duration of breastfeeding. Physical activity was highest in twins and third-or-later-born children and lowest in only children. In a multivariate model, being an only child showed a highly significant association with BMI-SDS. Conclusion The present study demonstrated that siblings had a lower BMI-SDS than only children did. For single-born siblings, the association between birth order and increased BMI-SDS seemed to persist only up to 11 years of age.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 84%

Having siblings promotes a more healthy weight status—Whereas only children are at greater risk for higher BMI in later childhood

et al. 2022

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“…A German study of 1,338 siblings showed that birthweight increased with birth order, despite decreasing maternal weight gain during pregnancy. 1 Bohn et al conclude that birth order must be considered a potential risk factor for higher birth weight. Hermanussen comments on the findings.…”

Section: Bir Thweight Increased With Bir Th Order Despite Decreasingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Käll¹,

Lagercrantz²

2021

Acta Paediatrica

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“…Bohn et al 1 aimed to investigate whether the birth order had an essential function in the development of different BW of siblings. BW does increase with birth order.…”

Section: Changes Of Uterine Size After Pregnancymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, Bohn et al 1 concluded that “birth order must be considered a potential risk factor for higher BW, and that maternal pregnancy weight gain is not the driving factor for higher BW in siblings”.…”

Section: Changes Of Uterine Size After Pregnancymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Secular trends in gestational weight gain and parity on birth weight: An editorial

Hermanussen¹,

Hermanussen

2020

Acta Paediatrica

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In this volume, Bohn et al. 1 showed that birth weight (BW) increases with birth order despite decreasing gestational weight gain (GWG) in 570 first-, 606 s-, and 162 third-or later-born infants. They investigated whether birth order is an influencing factor for BW independent from maternal factors. They concluded that "birth order must be considered a potential risk factor for higher BW" and that "maternal pregnancy weight gain is not the driving factor for higher BW in siblings." The topic has fuelled scientific interest since more than 150 years. Review of the literature indicates that maternal pregnancy weight gain is an important factor, but its importance is masked by the historic secular trend of increasing maternal weight subsequent to pregnancy.

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Birth weight increases with birth order despite decreasing maternal pregnancy weight gain

Cited by 19 publications

References 29 publications

Having siblings promotes a more healthy weight status—Whereas only children are at greater risk for higher BMI in later childhood

Having siblings promotes a more healthy weight status—Whereas only children are at greater risk for higher BMI in later childhood

Issue highlights

Secular trends in gestational weight gain and parity on birth weight: An editorial

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