From fatalism to mitigation: A conceptual framework for mitigating fetal programming of chronic disease by maternal obesity.

ABSTRACT: Prenatal development is recognized as a critical period in the etiology of obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Potential strategies to reduce maternal obesity-induced risk later in life have been largely overlooked. In this paper, we first propose a conceptual framework for the role of public health and preventive medicine in mitigating the effects of fetal programming. Second, we review a small but growing body of research (through August 2015) that examines interactive effects of maternal obesity and two public health foci - diet and physical activity - in the offspring. Results of the review support the hypothesis that diet and physical activity after early life can attenuate disease susceptibility induced by maternal obesity, but human evidence is scant. Based on the review, we identi

SUBMITTER: Boone-Heinonen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4679670 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature