Abstract
The increase in coronary heart disease in malnourished populations as nutrition improves may be related to a high body mass index (BMI) in mothers during pregnancy, and thinness in their infants at birth. In a study of 3,302 men, when premature births were excluded, those who were thin as infants had a death rate twice as high as those who were stout babies. A high BMI in the mother further increased the mortality rate. Recent nutrition improvement in malnourished mothers results in a higher BMI, but may not prevent thin offspring.