Fitness level could be linked to birth weight

Many of us get out of breath just running for a bus and feel guilty about not going to the gym. But fitness levels could actually be down to how much you weighed at birth, according to scientists. Researchers looked at more than 280,000 Swedish men aged between 17 and 24 - the years when they could be called up for military conscription in the country. On being called up, the men underwent tests on stationary bicycles to test their fitness at Sweden's Department for Global Public Health. The findings show that for every 1lb (450g) of weight at birth, the participants' capacity on the bikes increased by an average of 7.9 watts. This translates to a 34 per cent increase in fitness levels and a 13 per cent difference in risk of premature death, the researchers said.  Co-author Dr Daniel Berglind said the difference he and his team observed was 'alarming'. The average weight for a baby born in the UK is 7lbs 3oz and the NHS classified a low weight as anything below 5lbs 8oz. Low birthweight babies struggle to feed, gain weight, fight off infections and can develop breathing difficulties. As they grow older, they are also known to face a greater risk of suffering problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.