Wiley, BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 4(111), p. 377-379, 2004
DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00089.x
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In a two-generation study of the nationwide 1958 British cohort and their offspring, we investigated the intergenerational influence of birth order on birthweight. Despite increases in own birthweight by birth order and a positive parent-offspring correlation in birthweights, there was a suggestion that parental birth order was inversely associated with offspring birthweight. This paradoxical finding was due to differential intergenerational birthweight associations, with a weaker association in later-born compared with first-born parents. Our findings suggest that underlying causes of a given birthweight should be taken into account in studies that investigate long term health outcomes.