IQ link with baby weight gain, University of Adelaide

[azureline**]

1.5 points really? unless they are going to be below 75, then what difference can it really make?

A CHILD’S IQ is linked to weight gain during their first month of life, new University of Adelaide research shows.

The researchers found babies who put on 40 per cent of their birthweight within the first four weeks had an IQ 1.5 points higher by the time they were six years old, when compared to those who put on just 15 per cent of their birthweight in the same period.

Lead author of the study, public health researcher Dr Lisa Smithers, said the study was the first of its kind to focus on IQ benefits of rapid weight gain in the first month of life for healthy newborns.

“Those children who gained the most weight scored especially high on verbal IQ at age 6. This may be because the neural structures for verbal IQ develop earlier in life, which means rapid weight gain during that neonatal period could be having a direct cognitive benefit for the child,” she said.

[polksaladallie]

What do you mean, Azure?

[azureline**]

If that weight gain increases IQ by 1.5 points........ what is the point of that kind of research?

I can see some parents overfeeding babies for a higher IQ, given that research but what difference is 1.5 points going to make anyway?

Perhaps spend those research dollars on more beneficial studies.

[poddster]

Az the researchers have way too much time on their hands 🙂

[poddster]

Az 1.5 points would be a 100% increase to some people 😉

[polksaladallie]

If that weight gain increases IQ by 1.5 points........ what is the point of that kind of research?

I can see some parents overfeeding babies for a higher IQ, given that research but what difference is 1.5 points going to make anyway?

Perhaps spend those research dollars on more beneficial studies.

The research was most likely an offshoot of other research, not this topic on its own, and good research leads to more good research, which advances society and its health.  I doubt that overfeeding babies will have the same result.  IMO the observation is of a natural weight gain, rather than an artificial one. 

I agree that there is way too much research dollars spent on silly stuff in other areas.

And !.5 difference is quite a lot.

[lakeland27]

Az 1.5 points would be a 100% increase to some people 😉

it would be the first foray into positive territory for some 🙂

[azureline**]

But, she warned the study should not be seen as a reason to overfeed babies.

“We don’t want to send the message that parents should overfeed their baby to get a higher IQ,” she said.

“Babies should never be overfed, or force fed, but fed on demand which is consistent with the advice in our national guidelines.”

She also warned overfeeding could lead to other health problems such as obesity.

Dr Smithers said a 1.5 point increase in IQ was more important on a population level because you would not be able to tell if an individual child had an IQ 1.5 points higher than another.

[polksaladallie]

But, she warned the study should not be seen as a reason to overfeed babies.

“We don’t want to send the message that parents should overfeed their baby to get a higher IQ,” she said.

“Babies should never be overfed, or force fed, but fed on demand which is consistent with the advice in our national guidelines.”

She also warned overfeeding could lead to other health problems such as obesity.

Dr Smithers said a 1.5 point increase in IQ was more important on a population level because you would not be able to tell if an individual child had an IQ 1.5 points higher than another.

Exactly.

[azureline**]

so, what is the point of the research then? if it happens naturally anyway?