Birth weight - wikipedia Birth weight Baby weighed as appropriate for gestational age. Birth weight is the body weight of a baby at its birth. The average birth weight in babies of European heritage is 3.5 kilograms ( 7.7 lb ), though the range of normal is between 2.5 kilograms ( 5.5 lb ) and 5 kilograms ( 11 lb ) ( all but 5 % of newborns will fall into this range ). Babies of south Asian and Chinese heritage weigh about 240 grams ( 0.53 lb ) less. There have been numerous studies that have attempted, with varying degrees of success, to show links between birth weight and later - life conditions, including diabetes, obesity, tobacco smoking and intelligence. Low birth weight is associated with neonatal infection. Contents 1 Determinants 2 Abnormalities 3 Influence on adult life 3.1 Obesity 3.2 Diabetes 3.3 Intelligence 4 Poor Neonatal Care 5 Epidemiology 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Determinants There are basically two distinct determinants for birth weight : The duration of gestation prior to birth, that is, the gestational age at which the child is born Relation of weight and gestational age. The prenatal growth rate, generally measured in relation to what weight is expected for any gestational age. The incidence of birth weight being outside what is normal is influenced by the parents in numerous ways, including : Genetics The health of the mother, particularly during the pregnancy. Intercurrent diseases in pregnancy are sometimes associated with decreased birth weight. For example, Celiac disease confers an odds ratio of low birth weight of approximately 1.8. Environmental factors, including exposure of the mother to secondhand smoke Economic status of the parents gives inconsistent study findings according to a review on 2010, and remains speculative as a determinant. Other factors, like multiple births, where each baby is likely to be outside the AGA ( appropriate for gestational age ), one more so than the other. Abnormalities A low birth weight can be caused either by a preterm birth ( low gestational age at birth ) or of the infant being small for gestational age ( slow prenatal growth rate ), or a combination of both. A very large birth weight is usually caused by the infant having been large for gestational age Influence on adult life Studies have been conducted to investigate how a person 's birth weight can influence aspects of their future life. This includes theorised links with obesity, diabetes and intelligence. Obesity A baby born small or large for gestational age ( either of the two extremes ) is thought to have an increased risk of obesity in later life, but it was also shown that this relationship is fully explained by maternal weight. GH therapy at a certain dose induced catch - up of lean body mass ( LBM ). However percentage body fat decreased in the GH - treated subjects. Bone mineral density SDS measured by DEXA increased significantly in the GH - treated group compared to the untreated subjects, though there is much debate over whether or not SGA ( small for gestational age ) is significantly adverse to children to warrant inducing catch - up. Diabetes Babies that have a low birth weight are thought to have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in later life. Intelligence Some studies have shown a direct link between an increased birth weight and an increased intelligence quotient. Increased birth weight is also linked to greater risk of developing autism. Poor neonatal care Recent evidence suggests that the effects of low birth weight are constant across developmental years, suggesting that poor neonatal care has long term impacts. Epidemiology Disability - adjusted life years out of 100,000 lost due to any cause in 2004. no data less than 9,250 9,250 -- 16,000 16,000 -- 22,750 22,750 -- 29,500 29,500 -- 36,250 36,250 -- 43,000 43,000 -- 49,750 49,750 -- 56,500 56,500 -- 63,250 63,250 -- 70,000 70,000 -- 80,000 more than 80,000 See also Barker 's hypothesis MOMO syndrome Low birth weight paradox Prenatal nutrition and birth weight References Jump up ^ Definitions Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. from Georgia Department of Public Health. Date : 12 / 04 / 2008. Original citation : `` Birthweight : Infant 's weight recorded at the time of birth '' Jump up ^ `` New birth weight curves tailored to baby 's ethnicity Toronto Star ''. thestar.com. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 22. Jump up ^ Janssen, Patricia A ; Thiessen, Paul ; Klein, Michael C ; Whitfield, Michael F ; MacNab, Ying C ; Cullis - Kuhl, Sue C ( 2007 - 07 - 10 ). `` Standards for the measurement of birth weight, length and head circumference at term in neonates of European, Chinese and South Asian ancestry ''. Open Medicine. 1 ( 2 ) : e74 -- e88. ISSN 1911 - 2092. PMC 2802014. PMID 20101298. Jump up ^ Tersigni C, Castellani R, de Waure C, et al. ( 2014 ). `` Celiac disease and reproductive disorders : meta - analysis of epidemiologic associations and potential pathogenic mechanisms ''. Human Reproduction Update. 20 ( 4 ) : 582 -- 93. doi : 10.1093 / humupd / dmu007. PMID 24619876. Jump up ^ `` The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke : A Report of the Surgeon General ''. Surgeon General of the United States. 2006 - 06 - 27. Retrieved 2014 - 06 - 16. pp. 198 -- 205 Jump up ^ Margerison Zilko CE ( January 2010 ). `` Economic contraction and birth outcomes : an integrative review ''. Hum Reprod Update. 16 ( 4 ) : 445 -- 458. doi : 10.1093 / humupd / dmp059. PMID 20085917. Jump up ^ `` 3 stages of childhood may predict obesity risk - Fitness - MSNBC.com ''. Retrieved 2007 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ Singhal A, Wells J, Cole TJ, Fewtrell M, Lucas A ( 1 March 2003 ). `` Programming of lean body mass : a link between birth weight, obesity, and cardiovascular disease ? ''. Am J Clin Nutr. 77 ( 3 ) : 726 -- 30. PMID 12600868. Jump up ^ Parsons TJ, Power C, Manor O ( December 2001 ). `` Fetal and early life growth and body mass index from birth to early adulthood in 1958 British cohort : longitudinal study ''. BMJ. 323 ( 7325 ) : 1331 -- 5. doi : 10.1136 / bmj. 323.7325. 1331. PMC 60670. PMID 11739217. Jump up ^ `` GH Treatment Effects on Body Composition in SGA ''. Growth, Genetics & Hormones. 24 ( 1 ). May 2008. Jump up ^ `` Low birth weight diabetes link ''. BBC News. 2005 - 02 - 25. Retrieved 2007 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ Gillman MW, Rifas - Shiman S, Berkey CS, Field AE, Colditz GA ( March 2003 ). `` Maternal gestational diabetes, birth weight, and adolescent obesity ''. Pediatrics. 111 ( 3 ) : e221 -- 6. doi : 10.1542 / peds. 111.3. e221. PMID 12612275. Jump up ^ Rich - Edwards JW, Colditz GA, Stampfer MJ, et al. ( 1999 ). `` Birthweight and the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus in adult women ''. Ann Intern Med. 130 ( 4 Pt 1 ) : 278 -- 84. doi : 10.7326 / 0003 - 4819 - 130 - 4_part_1 - 199902160 - 00005. PMID 10068385. Jump up ^ Li, Yanping ; Ley, Silvia ; Tobias, Deirdre ; Chiuve, Stephanie ; VanderWeele, Tyler ( June 17, 2015 ). `` Birth weight and later life adherence to unhealthy lifestyles in predicting type 2 diabetes : prospective cohort study ''. BMJ. 351 : h3673. doi : 10.1136 / bmj. h3672. Jump up ^ Matte TD, Bresnahan M, Begg MD, Susser E ( August 2001 ). `` Influence of variation in birth weight within normal range and within sibships on IQ at age 7 years : cohort study ''. BMJ. 323 ( 7308 ) : 310 -- 4. doi : 10.1136 / bmj. 323.7308. 310. PMC 37317. PMID 11498487. Jump up ^ `` The Future of Children - Sub-Sections ''. Archived from the original on 2007 - 10 - 22. Retrieved 2007 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ Matte TD, Bresnahan M, Begg MD, Susser E ( August 2001 ). `` Influence of variation in birth weight within normal range and within sibships on IQ at age 7 years : cohort study ''. BMJ. 323 ( 7308 ) : 310 -- 4. doi : 10.1136 / bmj. 323.7308. 310. PMC 37317. PMID 11498487. Lay summary -- BBC News ( August 9, 2001 ). Jump up ^ Lord C ( April 2013 ). `` Fetal and sociocultural environments and autism ''. The American Journal of Psychiatry. 170 ( 4 ) : 355 -- 8. doi : 10.1176 / appi. ajp. 2013.13010078. PMID 23545788. Lay summary -- ScienceDaily ( May 2, 2013 ). Jump up ^ Figlio David ; Guryan Jonathan ; Karbownik Krzysztof ; Roth Jeffrey ( 2014 ). `` The Effects of Poor Neonatal Health on Children 's Cognitive Development ''. American Economic Review. 104 ( 12 ) : 3921 -- 55. doi : 10.1257 / aer. 104.12. 3921. Jump up ^ `` WHO Disease and injury country estimates ''. World Health Organization. 2009. Retrieved Nov 11, 2009. External links MedlinePlus Encyclopedia Intrauterine growth restriction Peleg D, Kennedy CM, Hunter SK ( August 1998 ). `` Intrauterine growth restriction : identification and management ''. Am Fam Physician. 58 ( 2 ) : 453 -- 60, 466 -- 7. PMID 9713399. `` Intrauterine growth restriction ( IUGR ) '' at Health System, University of Virginia Fetal Growth Restriction at eMedicine `` Researchers link low birth weight to lower achievement '' `` Management of Suspected Fetal Macrosomia '' `` Vit D linked to baby birth weight '' at BBC News, 25 April 2006 Born in Bradford - 2006 cohort study into the causes of low birth weight and infant mortality in Bradford, UK Intrauterine Growth Restriction Help - IUGR factors and solutions Pregnancy and childbirth Planning Birth control Natural family planning Pre-conception counseling Conception Assisted reproductive technology Artificial insemination Fertility medication In vitro fertilisation Fertility awareness Unintended pregnancy Testing 3D ultrasound Obstetric ultrasonography Pregnancy test Home testing Prenatal diagnosis Prenatal Anatomy Amniotic fluid Amniotic sac Endometrium Placenta Development Fundal height Gestational age Human embryogenesis Maternal physiological changes Postpartum physiological changes Care Nutrition Environmental toxicants In pregnancy Prenatal Concomitant conditions Drinking Diabetes mellitus Smoking Vaping SLE Sexual activity during pregnancy Procedures Amniocentesis Cardiotocography Chorionic villus sampling Nonstress test Abortion Childbirth Preparation Adaptation to extrauterine life Bradley method Hypnobirthing Lamaze Nesting instinct Roles Doula Men 's roles Midwife Obstetrician Perinatal nurse Delivery Bloody show Childbirth positions Home birth Multiple birth Natural childbirth Pelvimetry / Bishop score Cervical dilation Cervical effacement Position Presentation Breech Cephalic Shoulder Rupture of membranes Unassisted childbirth Uterine contraction Water birth Postpartum Child care Congenital disorders Sex after pregnancy Obstetric history Gravidity Parity TPAL Infants and their care Main Article Infant Health Baby food Birth weight Breast pump Breastfeeding Breastfeeding and medications Bottle feeding Colic Immunizations Cradle cap Cross eyed Failure to thrive Immunization Infant and toddler safety Infant bathing Infant food safety Infant formula Infant massage Infant food safety Infant nutrition Infant respiratory distress syndrome infant sleep training Neo-natal intensive care unit Oral rehydration therapy / Pedialyte Newborn care and safety Pediatrician Preterm birth Shaken baby syndrome Soy formula Sudden infant death syndrome Development Attachment parenting Baby - led weaning Baby talk Babbling Childbirth Congential disorder Crawling Infant visual development Diaper rash Gestational age Infant cognitive development Itsy Bitsy Spider Kangaroo care Mother Object permanence Parent Parenting Pat - a-cake, pat - a-cake, baker 's man Peekaboo Play Prenatal development Prenatal development table Teething This Little Piggy Types of crying Walking Weaning Socialization and Culture Attachment Babysitting Child abuse Child custody Child 's rights UN Child rights Circumcision Daycare Foster care Grandparent visitation Infant swimming Milk bank Nanny Wet nurse Infant care and equipment Baby bouncer Baby gate Baby monitor / Hidden camera Baby powder Baby shampoo Baby toy Baby walker Bib baby swing Baby transport Bassinet Child safety seat / Car seat safety Cloth diaper Cradle board Diaper Diaper bag Baby wipes Haberman Feeder Highchair Infant bed ( American ' crib ' and ' cradle ', British ' cot ' ) Infant carrier Infant clothing Pacifier Playpen Stroller Supplemental nursing system Swaddling Swim diaper Baby teether Travel cot Other topics Baby shower Babywearing Child neglect Closed adoption Cry room Infant ear piercing Open adoption Prenatal cocaine exposure Neonatal withdrawal syndrome Parental child abduction Parental rights Parenting plan Paternity fraud Paternity Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Birth_weight&oldid=815395195 '' Categories : Obstetrics Pediatrics Human weight Midwifery Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Vague or ambiguous geographic scope from September 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Nederlands Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 14 December 2017, at 16 : 03. 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Question: how much does the average baby weigh at birth
Answer: 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lb) and 5 kilograms (11 lb)