Low birth weight and blood pressure

Evidence supporting the association of normal and pathologically elevated blood pressure with low birth weight is presented and discussed in this article because of the overwhelming global prevalence of hypertension and its impact on individuals and nations. The findings provide strong impetus for the medical and public health communities to consider the concept of the developmental origins of health and disease in developing approaches to address the growing burden of hypertension worldwide. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.