Children born small for gestational age (SGA) have a higher risk of short stature than children born at normal size do. Furthermore, reduced birth weight is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, essential hypertension and metabolic disease, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present article, the definition and consequences of being born small are reviewed, with focus on the endocrine axes in children and adults born SGA.
Small for gestational age; Short stature; SGA; Diabetes mellitus; Syndrome X
