Birth weight and subsequent fitness

Article Outline

• Copyright

There has been increasing interest in the role of fetal programming in the risk of cardiovascular disease. In this issue of The Journal, Ortega et al report on a study that examined the relationship between birth weight, hand grip strength, and cardiovascular fitness in adolescence. They found that higher birth weight is associated with higher hand grip strength and the relationship seems to be explained by higher fat free mass. These results may indicate a role for genetic or intrauterine environment on subsequent muscle development.