People who were born at a low birth weight may have an increased risk of eventually developing kidney disease - this according to researchers at the George Institute for International Health in Sydney, Australia.
 
One theory is restricted growth during fetal development - whether due to poor nutrition or some other factor - can "program" certain organs or body systems to be more vulnerable to disease later in life.  The research is published in the American Journal of Kidney Disease.

This article originally appeared in the September 2009 issue of Kidney Beginnings: The Electronic Newsletter.