It’s a surprising factor.
Recent research highlights how hot weather can significantly affect infant development both before and after birth. The study found that increased heat exposure during a mother’s first trimester of pregnancy raises the likelihood of delivering a baby with low birth weight. This early period of pregnancy is particularly vulnerable to heat stress, which may have long-term consequences for the baby’s health.
The study also revealed that consistent heat exposure can impede an infant’s growth. By the time the babies reached one year of age, those regularly exposed to higher temperatures, averaging 86°F, were more likely to weigh less for their height and age compared to infants exposed to cooler conditions, around 77°F. This suggests that growing up in hotter environments could lead to stunted growth in early childhood.
Lead researcher Dr. Ana Bonell of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine explained that heat stress might affect the appetite and food intake of both pregnant mothers and infants. It could also interfere with their ability to regulate body temperature, further complicating health outcomes. The research team is now investigating whether heat has direct effects on cellular and inflammatory processes, which may worsen the body’s response to temperature changes.
The study examined data from 668 mothers and their infants in Gambia between 2010 and 2015, where the average temperature was around 86°F, with some days reaching as high as 114°F. These findings were published in The Lancet Planetary Health and stress the need for more public health measures to address the risks posed by global warming, particularly for vulnerable populations.
As Dr. Bonell pointed out, more research is needed to determine which populations are most at risk of heat stress and how it contributes to growth problems in children. Given the ongoing rise in global temperatures, these findings highlight the urgent need for actions that can improve child health and protect future generations from the effects of climate change.
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