Birth Weight News and Research

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Higher stress and BMI tied to earlier puberty in girls

New research links stress, BMI, and hormone patterns to pubertal timing, revealing implications for long-term health and early intervention strategies.

16 Apr 2026

Steroid hormones, BMI and stress influence puberty timing in girls

Higher levels of key steroid hormones-combined with elevated stress and body mass index (BMI)-are associated with earlier onset of puberty in girls, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

13 Apr 2026

Crisis-driven maternal psychological stress can affect fetal development and birth outcomes

Fetal development is a critical stage with effects that can last throughout life. Yet, identifying the effects of maternal psychological stress on the fetus has been difficult, mainly because stressful events often produce psychological and physical consequences that directly affect mothers and their children.

8 Apr 2026

Low birthweight increases stroke risk independent of adult BMI

In new research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO2026) in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May), researchers show an increased risk of stroke in young adulthood for children of low birthweight, independent of their body mass index (BMI) as young adults or gestational age at birth.

3 Apr 2026

Extreme heat linked to higher risk of low birth weight babies

Exposure to extreme heat conditions is resulting in more babies being born with low birth weight, according to a new study involving Adelaide University researchers.

1 Apr 2026

Inside the high-stakes corporate fight over feeding preterm babies

In 2013, a scientist at Abbott Laboratories saw study results with potentially big implications for the company's profits and the lives of some of the world's most fragile people: preterm infants.

30 Mar 2026

UPFs before conception may shape fertility and embryo growth

Findings show ultraprocessed food consumption before conception influences fertility and embryonic development, urging further research in this area.

26 Mar 2026

Study connects ultra-processed diets to fertility and embryo development

Eating large amounts of ultra-processed food (UPF) is linked not only to reduced fertility in men, but also to slower growth in early embryos, and smaller yolk sacs, which are essential for early embryonic development, according to new research.

24 Mar 2026

Decoding the purpose of fetal yawns in the womb

Even in the womb, where all oxygen is provided by the parental placenta, fetuses can-and do-yawn. More yawns during observation were associated with a lower weight at birth-potentially indicating mild fetal stress in the womb, according to a study published February 25, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Damiano Menin, of the Università degli Studi di Ferrara in Italy, and colleagues.

26 Feb 2026

Standard doses of antidepressants during pregnancy appear to be safe, study suggests

Using a standard dose of antidepressants during pregnancy appears to be safe for the baby, suggests new research from the University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital.

24 Feb 2026

Study reveals how meal skipping during teen pregnancy connects to mental health

A cross-sectional study of pregnant adolescents found that skipping meals, screen distraction during eating, and low dairy intake were associated with higher depressive symptom prevalence. Overall dietary diversity showed no significant relationship, and causality could not be established.

23 Feb 2026

Grant funds research on prenatal massage for maternal mental health

The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) announces the award of a research grant to University of Denver, Denver, Colo. The grant will support a three-year study entitled, "Prenatal Massage: A Complementary Approach for Maternal Health and Mental Health," led by Primary Investigator Galena Rhoades, PhD.

22 Feb 2026

Study reveals widespread prenatal exposure of babies to forever chemicals

Babies born between 2003 and 2006 were exposed to many more "forever chemicals" before birth than scientists previously understood, according to new research published in Environmental Science & Technology.

18 Feb 2026

SSRI use during pregnancy linked to gestational diabetes risk and early adaptation problems in newborns

An international team of researchers has found that the use of SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes and early adaptation problems in newborns, even after taking maternal depression into account.

13 Feb 2026

Top early-life factors driving childhood food allergy

This study analyzes 190 research papers to uncover early-life predictors of food allergies in children, highlighting skin barrier health and family history.

12 Feb 2026

Breastfeeding and healthy infant diets may help lower obesity risk by age nine

nationwide Icelandic cohort study found that better alignment with infant nutrition guidelines was associated with lower odds of obesity at ages 6 and 9 years. Associations were inconsistent at younger ages, highlighting the complex and multifactorial nature of childhood weight outcomes.

11 Feb 2026

Cardiologists highlight overlooked heart risks across women’s lives

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet awareness of cardiovascular risk—particularly among younger women and women of color—has stalled, even as rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol continue to rise.

3 Feb 2026