Older sisters often moan¹ that their younger siblings² have all the luck. But it seems they really do have something to complain about – for research has found that younger sisters are more likely to be slimmer than firstborn girls.

当姐姐的总是抱怨妹妹运气太好。现在看来，她们的抱怨也不是无中生有。有研究发现，比起家里排行最大的姐姐，妹妹们更有可能身材苗条。

The study – the largest of its kind – suggests that birth order may play an important role in determining weight. And the researchers warned that firstborns could be at risk of other health problems too.

这是该领域内规模最大的一次研究，研究结果表明，出生顺序或许很大程度上决定了体重。研究员同时警告称，长子长女还有可能出现其他健康问题。

The scientists looked at data on the health of 13,400 pairs of sisters and found that firstborn women were, on average, 29 per cent more likely to be overweight and 40 per cent more likely to be obese³ than second-born sisters. The findings back up similar research on men that found firstborn males were more likely to be overweight than younger brothers.

科学家们比对了13400对姐妹的健康数据，结果发现，平均而言，与排行老二的妹妹相比，排行老大的姐姐超重的可能性高29%，肥胖的可能性高40%。这一发现与另一项针对男性的相似研究的结果相符，后者研究发现，比起弟弟，排行老大的哥哥超重的可能性更大。

Older sisters often moan that their younger siblings have all the luck. But it seems they really do have something to complain about – for research has found that younger sisters are more likely to be slimmer than firstborn girls.

当姐姐的总是抱怨妹妹运气太好。现在看来，她们的抱怨也不是无中生有。有研究发现，比起家里排行最大的姐姐，妹妹们更有可能身材苗条。

The study – the largest of its kind – suggests that birth order may play an important role in determining weight. And the researchers warned that firstborns could be at risk of other health problems too.

这是该领域内规模最大的一次研究，研究结果表明，出生顺序或许很大程度上决定了体重。研究员同时警告称，长子长女还有可能出现其他健康问题。

The scientists looked at data on the health of 13,400 pairs of sisters and found that firstborn women were, on average, 29 per cent more likely to be overweight and 40 per cent more likely to be obese than second-born sisters. The findings back up similar research on men that found firstborn males were more likely to be overweight than younger brothers.

科学家们比对了13400对姐妹的健康数据，结果发现，平均而言，与排行老二的妹妹相比，排行老大的姐姐超重的可能性高29%，肥胖的可能性高40%。这一发现与另一项针对男性的相似研究的结果相符，后者研究发现，比起弟弟，排行老大的哥哥超重的可能性更大。