Alice Abraham ¹, A. Susheela Thirumaran ², Grace Ogunnaike ³

Affiliations
1 Life University, GE
2 Thiruvalluvar University, IN
3 Cobb and Douglas Public Health, GE

Abstract

Smoking is the second leading risk factor for global mortality. In the United States, 65 per cent of all infant deaths occur among low birth-weight (LBW) infants (<2500g); LBW infants account for 7.6 per cent of all live- born infants. Numerous studies have shown that maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with reduced birth weight or increased risk of LBW . Maternal cigarette smoking is identified as the single largest modifiable risk factor for intrauterine growth restriction in developed countries.

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Alice Abraham ¹, Aruna Narayanan ², Hailey Huges ³

Affiliations
1 Nutrition Department, Life University, GE
2 PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, IN
3 Cobb and Douglas County, GE

Abstract

Obesity in the United States and worldwide has grown to epidemic proportions. The latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004) indicate that among non pregnant women of age 20 to 39 years, approximately 25 per cent are overweight and 28 per cent are obese, of whom 6 percent are considered extremely obese (BMI≥40). Among adolescent girls, 12 to 19 years old, approximately 30per cent are at or above the 85^th percentile of BMl-for-age and 16.4per cent are considered obese.

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