Heavier babies 'happier in later life'

04 Dec 2007

Babies born with a higher birth weight are more likely to have better mental health later in life, a new study suggests.

A report published in the December issue of Biological Psychiatry states that people who were born lighter have a higher risk of suffering from depression and anxiety.

What was most significant about the findings is that the group which displayed no symptoms of depression or anxiety had the highest birth weights, while those who suffered from recurring severe symptoms recorded the lowest birth weight.

Researchers from the University of Alberta, Canada and colleagues in Britain found that adverse conditions in the womb that have a direct impact on a baby's growth may also affect brain development.

"We found that even people who had just mild or moderate symptoms of depression or anxiety over their life course were smaller babies than those who had better mental health," researcher Ian Colman told Reuters.

He added: "It suggests a dose-response relationship. As birth weight progressively decreases, it's more likely that an individual will suffer from mood disorders later in life."

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