This review paper examined published evidence on the association between birth weight and type 2 diabetes in adults. Data was obtained from 30 selected reports (31 populations). Among these populations, 23 showed negative associations (9 of which were significant) and 8 showed positive associations (2 of which were significant). Following the exclusion of 2 native North American populations characterized by an elevated prevalence of maternal diabetes and of 1 population of young adults, the adjusted age- and sex-pooled odds ratio of type 2 diabetes was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.70-0.82) per kilogram. Further adjustments for body mass index and socioeconomic status did not affect the relationship. Finally, the inverse relationship between birth weight and type 2 diabetes risk was strongly graded, particularly at birth weights of 3 kg or less.
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