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Growth and later health: a general perspective
1The MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series. Paediatric Programme
|February 9, 2010
Summary
Early growth significantly impacts long-term health, influencing risks for obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even cognitive development. Understanding these early growth patterns is crucial for preventing adult diseases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Biology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pediatric growth and its derangements are well-studied.
- Emerging evidence highlights early growth's fundamental role in programming later health.
- Concepts like the postnatal growth acceleration hypothesis link early growth to adult disease risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the fundamental role of early growth in long-term health.
- To understand the mechanisms, triggers, and critical windows of early growth's influence.
- To identify public health implications for primary disease prevention.
Main Methods:
- Review of animal and human studies on early growth patterns.
- Analysis of evidence linking early growth to obesity and cardiovascular disease.
- Examination of the impact of early growth on brain development and cognition.
Main Results:
- Rapid early growth is associated with increased risks of obesity and cardiovascular disease.
- Early growth influences senescence and lifespan in animal models.
- Catch-up growth in infants born small may confer adverse health outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Early growth, including prenatal and postnatal phases, has profound programming effects on lifelong health.
- Understanding these effects offers potential for primary prevention strategies against adult diseases.
- Further research into the mechanisms and critical windows of early growth is warranted.
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