American scientists have started a series of
research on the relationship of intelligence development and birth weight of
babies. One study 1 that babies wbo are
bigger at birth 2 are more intelligent
later in life. It found that the intelligence of a child at seven years of age
is directly 3 to his or her weight at
birth. Study organizers say this is probably because heavier babies received
more 4 during important periods of
brain development before they were born. The study 5 almost 3, 500 children. Researchers in
New York City used 6 tests to measure
intelligence. Brothers and sisters were tested so that the 7 of birth weight alone could be separated from
the effects of diet or other 8 . The
researchers found "that children with higher birth weights generally did better
on the intelligence tests. Also, 9 Another American study examined the development of very
low birth weight babies. They were born early,
before the end of the normal nine-month
development period. 10 They found that
the young people who had been very low birth weight babies were less likely to
complete high school. 11