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.

[azureline**]

It was published in the International Journal Of Paediatrics apparently.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/iq-link-with-baby-weight-gain-university-of-adelaide-research-shows/story-fnii5yv7-1226665089224

[***super_nova***]

Unfortunately, articles about studies are often written by people who do not quite understand what is important; they just write what will make a good headline. 

My guess would be that good brain development would depend on good nutrition, and well nourished babies would put about 40% of their birth weight on in few weeks after birth.  Maybe the study found (and yes, I am sure they were looking at many factors of child development over a number of years) that the first few months were particularly important.

[poddster]

How would you do that? not really the usual thing to have an IQ test is it?

They could just pick random numbers 🙂

[0z_girl]

" The study also found infants with the biggest growth in head circumference also had the highest IQ.

“Head circumference is an indicator of brain volume, so a greater increase in head circumference in a newborn suggests more rapid brain growth,” Dr Smithers said ."

wow, so now they are saying babies with bigger heads will be smarter? 😮

[0z_girl]

“The take home message from this is that parents need to get help if they have any concerns about their baby’s growth.”

I think this is done fairly well already, with regular weight and health checks of newborns, in our society anyhow.

less emphasis on weight, and more on overall health and mental wellbeing of children and mothers would be beneficial. seems to be another story to create more scare mongering and guilt trips for parents trying to do the right thing and do the best they can.

[polksaladallie]

Unfortunately, articles about studies are often written by people who do not quite understand what is important; they just write what will make a good headline. 

You are spot on.  In the published paper, there will be lots of further explanation, which might tell a different story altogether.