Birth weight may predict future success

A Norwegian study reveals that children born smaller than expected, especially those born between 37 and 38 weeks of pregnancy, experience minor differences in academic performance, amounting to about two points in math and reading test scores between the ages of 10 and 15. The findings suggest that small size at birth—potentially due to poor nutrition or placental issues—may influence brain development and lead to variations in academic achievement, particularly in early stages. However, these gaps tend to decrease as children grow, with much of the difference disappearing by age 3. Nonetheless, a small size at birth remains an indicator of the need for close follow-up and targeted support during childhood.