The percentage of low birth weight babies born in West Virginia continues to outpace the national average.

The state's 2007 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System report looked at the birth weights of 52,000 infants and children enrolled in the Women, Infants and Children program.

It found that 10.5 percent of WIC-enrolled babies were born weighing less than 5 1/2 pounds. The national rate was just over nine percent.

The report isn't a true sampling of the population because it only looks at children enrolled in the program, which is administered by the West Virginia Office of Nutrition Services. However, its findings are similar to those of other surveys.

Cindy Hall is the nutrition office's program integrity coordinator. She says WIC officials are encouraging women to enroll earlier so that they'll have access to nutrition experts who can help ensure the birth of healthy babies.