The developmental origins of well-being.
Low birthweight is now known to be associated with increased rates of coronary heart disease and the related disorders, stroke, hypertension and adult-onset diabetes. These associations have been extensively replicated in studies in different countries and are not the result of confounding variables. They extend across the normal range of birthweight and depend on lower birthweights in relation to the duration of gestation rather than the effects of premature birth. The associations are thought to be consequences of developmental plasticity, the phenomenon by which one genotype can give rise to a range of different physiological or morphological states in response to different environmental conditions during development. Recent observations have shown that impaired growth in infancy and rapid childhood weight gain exacerbate the effects of impaired prenatal growth. A new vision of optimal early human development is emerging, which takes account of health and well-being throughout life.
Barker
D J P
DJ
Division for Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Disease, University of Southampton, Mailpoint 95, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. djpb@mrc.soton.ac.uk
D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000150:complications*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012307:Risk Factors