| Popis: |
There is growing interest in the role of early life experiences in the aetiology of obesity. In particular, prenatal life may be a ‘critical period’ which influences the risk of developing overweight and obesity in childhood. In recent years, epidemiological evidence has accumulated to support the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) concept that the prenatal environment can affect the development and long term health outcomes of the offspring. In this section, we discuss some of the epidemiological and intervention evidence that links maternal pregravid obesity, weight gain during pregnancy, and maternal smoking with body composition in childhood, and discuss potential causal mechanisms. |
