Size at birth of Asian and white Caucasian babies born in Leicester: implications for obstetric and paediatric practices

Abstract

This investigation extends our knowledge of the size of British born Asian babies compared with those of white Caucasian origin. Seventy Leicester born term Asian babies at birth were lighter, shorter, leaner and had smaller heads than their white Caucasian counterparts. The Asian mothers were shorter and lighter at the start of pregnancy but their weight/height2 index was the same. With the appreciation that the Asian population in Britain is far from homogenous in regard to religion, diet and country of origin, it is concluded that the smaller size at birth of Asian babies is unlikely to be due to undernutrition of their mothers in pregnancy. Genetic factors, as indicated by the shorter stature of the mothers are more likely to be responsible. These findings have implications for obstetric and paediatric practices.