Are our babies becoming bigger

摘要: I have tried to show, using a contemporary international data set, the overall consistency in shape of curves national birthweight distributions which reflect biological and social characteristics population from they are derived, effects changes these characteristics. For several countries, including United States England Wales, trends recent years been such as shift main distribution upwards, so that median weight has increased. Also shown close specific relationship within each group between infant mortality birthweight, with sharp falls increasing birthweight. It elsewhere similar patterns seen short- long-term morbidity, thus underlining importance be attached particularly underprivileged groups. In short term this can done by reducing frequency parental smoking, where is problem, longer improving maternal health nutrition. The towards higher birthweights if it persists, should make an important contribution improvement public next generation.