The influence on neonatal anthropometry of maternal cigarette smoking
in pregnancy was investigated in 933 parous women. Anthropometric grow
th parameters including skinfold measurements were studied in the newb
orns. After adjustment for maternal age, pre-pregnancy weight, height
and pregnancy weight gain, smoking had a clear dose-dependent negative
effect on all anthropometric characteristics in the infant. In contra
st to the results obtained in other investigations, the reduced birth
weight of the infants of smoking mothers was not found to be primarily
due to a reduction in lean body mass; nor was fat deposition found to
be reduced. Fetal anthropometry was also negatively affected in infan
ts born to mothers who stopped smoking during pregnancy.