The study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, analyzes 35 years of data on more than 12,000 individuals from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, conducted since 1968 by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR).

It found that babies with low birth weights are one-third more likely to drop out of high school; earn an average of 15 percent less as adults; and are burdened in their 30s and 40s with the health of someone that is 12 years older.

The study's authors, Robert Schoeni of the University of Michigan and Rucker Johnson of the University of California at Berkley, concluded that low birth weight babies born to families of all income sectors were at risk for lower success and health problems in adulthood.

However, the problem was more pronounced in lower income families without health insurance, Schoeni told Foxnews.com

He said researchers were able to conclude that the problem stemmed from low birth weight, rather than socioeconomic conditions by studying siblings.

"We looked at brothers, for example, raised in the same family with parents of the same economic and educational backgrounds and we think it's a low birth weight problem," he said.

The study also showed that increasing the income of the nation’s poorest families by just $10,000 lowers the probability of low-weight birth by 2.18 percent. This did not have the same effect among lower middle income and high-income families, however.

The study does not make recommendations on how to address the problem, but Schoeni said early intervention, both medically and educationally, during the formative years of childhood appears to help low birth weight children live more productive lives.

"There's a critical need to invest in those years because not only does it seem to have benefits in short run, but also in the long run," he said. "The investment can result in a reduction in poverty and negative labor outcomes, as well as increases in future earnings and improved health."

Schoeni said he and other researchers are now studying how low birth weight effects adulthood diseases such as obesity and high blood pressure.

The study also found:

— Compared to their normal birth weight siblings, low birth-weight children are 30 percent less likely to be in excellent or very good health in childhood. They also score significantly lower on reading, passage comprehension, and math achievement tests.

— Weighing less than 5.5 pounds at birth increases the probability of being in fair or poor health as an adult by more than 70 percent.

— The earnings penalty for being born with low weight increases with age, with a 10 percent reduction in hourly wages from ages 18 to 26; a 10.2 percent reduction at age 25; a 15.6 percent reduction at age 35; and a 22 percent reduction in wages from ages 37 to 52.

What do you think?

I should have said weight, not rate...sorry.

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I wonder if this has something to do with the myelin sheath. I took a class where they showed us footage of babies whose mothers had put them on low fat diets (don't ask me why). These babies had delayed reflexes because the sheath, which is comprised of fat, quickens the impulse.

Weird. But why are babies born with a low birth weight? I think one reason is the mother smoked while pregnant. If she smoked while pregnant chances are she's not too concerned with her child's well being or health in the first place so it's unlikely she'll step it up after he's born.

That sounded pretty judgmental, it really bothers me to see pregnant women smoking.

There's smoking, poor diet, stress (oh yeah, stress will do it...), general lack of good health on the mother's part...
Smoking while pregnant though, is...yick.

2.18% is also not a big difference. Could it be that if you start out in a better socioeconomic level you will be more likely to excel?

It could be, but also, people in better socioeconomic levels are more likely, generally speaking, to take better care of themselves.

^^ True, but I was thinking if your parents are wealthier they may be able to more easily afford things like a higher education. That really plays a role in your earning power, not always, but usually.

That's true as well.

This is not always the case, sometimes the mother or the baby may become distressed and they need to deliever early resulting in a low birth weight. Sometimes early labor just happends an if they can't stop it it's the same situation as above.

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I had a low birth weight..but it had nothing to do with any mistake my mom had as she was eating right and taking all the care pregnant moms take. Sometimes it has to do with genes and height of parents.

I would need much more data on this, such as the following:

1. Are they full term or premature?
2.Are the babies ill or well?
3. Did the mothers get prenatal care?
4. How old are the mothers?
5. Did the mothers or fathers have health issues?
6. What type of diet was the mother on?
7. How old are the fathers? (This fact has been found to be very important).
8. Did the mother and/or father live near factories?
9. What type of occupation did the mother and father have? Ex: Someone's hubby working in a coal mine or a chemical plant would be important.
10.Did the mother or father smoke, drink alcohol, and/or do illegal drugs?
11.What is the education level of the parents?
12.What was the mothers feelings towards her pregnancy?
13.What was the race of the parents? For some, this may be normal.
14. Did the mother contract any viruses during the pregnancy?
15. Was this a multiple birth?
16. Did the mother have morning sickness throughout the pregnancy?

It's very interesting, but I feel a bit left out with information as you can see.

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Opps, I just thought of one more off the top of my pea brain. Were there complications of the delivery?

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Well, I'm not sure what to say, I personally found that article rather alarming, as I was 3lb 5oz. when I was born.

but it was especially this one point:

I suspect thats because the chances seem so high. And I guess its a bit late for me to do anything about my childhood reading and maths skills. I wasn't horribly unhealthy when I was younger though.

Sorry, I'm not being very helpful or insightful, as all I can think is "I'm dooooooomed"...(ever the drama queen )

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