Research progress of catch-up growth outcomes in small for gestational age children: a review

Abstract

Small for gestational age (SGA) children′s catch-up growth after birth has a significant impact on their future health outcomes. While there has been considerable research into the postnatal development and catch-up growth characteristics of SGA, studies on the health outcomes of such growth are relatively rare, and the conclusions vary, lacking a systematic summary. This study summarizes the research progress on the health outcomes of SGA catch-up growth from three aspects: physical development, metabolism, and neuropsychology. It also proposes hypotheses in order to provide a basis for the growth and targeted intervention of SGA.

Keywords

• small for gestational age
• physical development
• metabolism
• neuropsychology
• catch-up growth