The report found that older women and teenagers were most likely to have a low birth weight baby.
Between 1985 and 1996, the incidence of low birth weight babies in the US rose from 6.8% to 7.4%.
Environmental factors premature delivery, low birth weight, maternal infections and maternal nutrition have been implicated in autism, as well as advanced parental age.
Women with both disease also had a higher risk of developing anaemia, miscarrying, having a low birth weight baby and delivering prematurely.
The study excluded twins and triplets as they are known to be at increased risk of premature birth and low birth weight.
Dr Wang is seeking to identify specific genetic traits that make women more likely to give birth to a low birth weight or premature baby.
Stopping this tragedy there are 20 million low birth weight and premature babies born each year is the primary mission of Embrace.
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Forum data showed that the proportion of infants born with low birth weight was 8 percent in 1997, the highest figure in more than 20 years.
However, previous research has linked low birth weight to an increased risk of attention deficit disorder, as well as physical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
The program was developed in response to the shocking infant mortality statistics in the United States, as well as to prevent low birth weight and premature babies.
Lead researcher Louise Bamfield conceded that medical advances meant more low birth weight babies were now surviving, but she said social deprivation and low income were significant factors.
Experts hope to reduce this figure to 15% by 2010 as women who smoke while pregnant are three times more likely to have a low birth weight baby.
It is also possible that low birth weight is indicative of harsh living conditions, such as poverty, which may make a child experiencing them more likely to be depressed.
Alternatively, a depressed mother may be more likely to produce a child who is prone to depression - and to have a low birth weight baby because they may be more likely to smoke and drink during pregnancy.
Mothers of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin had a high risk of having low birth-weight babies - their babies are on average 300g lighter than those of white mothers.
Low-birth weight is linked to an increased risk death and disability, and a range of long-term health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and depression.
Some 20 million low-birth-weight babies are born every year mostly in the developing world and nearly 4 million die within the first month of life.
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