Incidence of Low Birth Weight Babies on the Rise in India

by Kathy Jones on December 23, 2010 at 9:49 PM Indian Health News

Font : A-A+

A new survey carried out by leading weight loss company, VLCC has expressed concerns over the rising instances of babies with low birth weight of less than 2.5 kgs in India.

Incidence of Low Birth Weight Babies on the Rise in India

Nearly 20 percent of all the babies born in India have a birth weight of less than 2.5 kgs compared with the normal birth weight of 3 kgs. This is more prevalent among urban mothers with 24 percent of babies born in urban areas have a low birth rate compared to 14.7 percent in rural areas.

Lead researcher Veena Aggarwal said that one of the major reasons for low birth weight is the life style of would be mothers, especially in the first trimester. With expectant mothers eating less than necessary, the right amount of nutrition fails to reach the baby in the initial stages.

The best way to overcome this loss of nutrition is by eating malted food such as ragi, wheat flour or soya, Aggarwal suggested. The would-be mothers should also increase their protein intake in the second trimester while staying away from alcohol or cigarettes and trying to avoid getting stress.

"The size of the placenta often becomes small if the mother is stressed and nutrition doesn't reach the baby properly. There is no better way to beat stress than exercise. Babies of mothers who exercise are born with healthier weights", Aggarwal added.

Source: Medindia

Post a Comment

Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. The editorial team reserves the right to review and moderate the comments posted on the site.

Notify me when reply is posted
I agree to the terms and conditions

lifestylebreak

I had no idea low birth weight was a growing problem in India. Why are urban mothers eating less than their rural counterparts?

Reply | Forward

More News on:

Restless Legs Syndrome Ideal Baby Weight Height and Weight-Kids

News A - Z

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

News Search

Medindia Newsletters

Subscribe to our Free Newsletters!

What's New on Medindia

Cyanosis

Cyanosis is the bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin and mucus membranes due to lack of ...

Travel Vaccination Calculator

Find out about travel shots or vaccination before you travel to your destination country. Travel ...

Test Your Knowledge on Hay Fever

Hay fever is caused by allergy to pollen and is characterized by runny or blocked nose, sneezing, ...

View All

News Category

Haemophilia Jagruti Magazine Launched in Gujarat to Spread Awareness Indian Health Ministry Moves to Identify TB Champions Bail Granted to Uttar Pradesh Oxygen Supplier: Gorakhpur Tragedy Three Infants in Jharkhand Die After DTP Vaccination More Than 11 Lakh Women Benefited From Maternity Scheme: Report

More Indian Health News

News Archive

Date:
Category:
Keyword:

RapidSSL

Disclaimer - All information and content on this site are for information and educational purposes only. The information should not be used for either diagnosis or treatment or both for any health related problem or disease. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician for medical diagnosis and treatment.
Full Disclaimer

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

Incidence of Low Birth Weight Babies on the Rise in India

Post a Comment

Most Popular On Medindia:

Sinopril (2mg) (Lacidipine)

Find a Hospital

How to Reduce School Bag Weight - Simple Tips

Fongitar (Zinc Pyrithionone)

Vent Forte (Theophylline)

Color Blindness Calculator