Summer-Born Children are Likelier to be Taller and Healthier Than Winter-Born Kids

Children who are born in the summer season are more likely to be taller and healthier adults, revealed a new research. The study also revealed that girls born in summer season attained puberty later, an indication of better health in adult life. The researchers said, "More sunlight - and therefore higher vitamin D exposure - in the second trimester of pregnancy could explain the effect."

Lead author of the study John Perry from the University of Cambridge said, "Our results show that birth month has a measurable effect on development and health, but more work is needed to understand the mechanisms behind this effect."

For the study, researchers analyzed almost half a million people in Britain, and looked at whether the birth month had an effect on birth weight, onset of puberty and adult height. They found that kids who were born in summer were slightly heavier at birth, taller as adults and went through puberty slightly later than those born in winter months.

The findings were detailed in Heliyon.

Source-IANS