most potent single predictor of an infant's future health status is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Birthweight is the most potent single predictor of an infant's future health status. Low birth weight is linked to many health problems such as developmental delays, respiratory problems, and a higher risk of infection. It is also a predictor of future academic and behavioral problems. Rapidity of recovery, age at which the infant learns to walk, and the ease and rapidity of delivery do not have as strong of a correlation with future health status. The infant's birthweight is the most potent single predictor of the infant's future health status, as it is strongly associated with infant mortality, morbidity, and long-term health outcomes such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Babies with low birth weight are more likely to suffer from developmental delay, neurological problems or chronic health conditions. Rapidity of the mother's recovery, ease and rapidity of delivery, and the age at which the infant first learns to walk are important, but they do not have as strong a correlation with future health outcomes as birthweight.

Most Potent Single Predictor of an Infant's Future Health Status