If this is not your name, click here. Other Ophthalmic Surgery Organ Transplantation Orthopaedics Other Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Otitis Otorhino. A study of 216 girls, aged between 14 and 16, showed that those who were of lower birthweight had greater amounts of fat stored on the central part of their bodies. Central fat deposits between the shoulders and hips are associated with insulin resistance and an increased risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes in women, regardless of the level of overall body fat.
Adolescence is a critical period for the development of adult obesity.
Researchers from the University of Southampton measured the girls height and weight, and body fat was determined by measuring skinfold thickness at specific points on the upper body. The ratio of central to peripherally distributed fat increased by nine per cent for every kilogram decrease in birthweight in girls who were above average weight. For those who were overweight, the ratio increased to 27 per cent for every kilogram decrease. Although girls from manual households tended to be heavier and shorter than girls from non-manual households, these findings held, irrespective of social class. The findings of this study suggest that it may be important for girls who were small at birth to avoid becoming overweight.