Birth weight was longitudinally associated with cardiometabolic risk markers in mid-adulthood

Abstract Purpose Birth weight (BW) is associated with risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. The findings from studies examined the association of BW with metabolic markers of CV risk were inconsistent and controversial. We examined the association of BW with insulin resistance and blood lipids using repeated measures up to mid-adulthood. Methods Data from seven screenings of the Bogalusa Heart Study—a longitudinal study of cardiovascular risk factors in Bogalusa, LA—are analyzed using generalized estimation equations method. Participants with birth data and at least one measurement of study outcomes between 18 and 44 years ( n  = 2,034) were included. Results BW is inversely associated with insulin resistance, triglycerides, and total cholesterol ( P Conclusions The study provides strong evidence of an inverse relationship of BW with adulthood cardiometabolic risk profile. Persons born with low BW are maybe less responsive to preventive interventions aiming at weight reduction.