Lo Birth Wt. More important, the rate of very low birthweight is much lower for most Asian ethnic groups. Most Hispanics compare favorably with whites, despite much higher poverty rates and much lower incomes. Asians also have higher rates of poverty than whites. Study backs prenatal advice as way to foil low birth weights, but Mass data show this is not the case.
Children grow up smaller too.
Lo Birth Wt. White women's babies weighed an average of 7.5 pounds, African-born women's 7.3 pounds and American blacks' 6.8 pounds. Birthweight is simply a national trait, not a survival advantage Comment - Asians have a higher rate of low birth weight babies, but otherwise they are healthier with a lower infant mortality rate than whites. In blacks, a low birth weight is much more an indicator of true risk.