biostudies-literatureRobertson OCU.S. PHS; National Institutes of Health; National Institute of Mental HealthEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentNICHD NIH HHSNIDA NIH HHSNIMH NIH HHSU.S. Public Health ServiceNational Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of Health; National Institute on Drug AbuseU.S. PHSU.S. Public Health Service (PHS)NIDDK NIH HHSU.S. PHS; National Institutes of Health; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesNational Institute of Mental HealthU.S. PHS; National Institutes of Health; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentU.S. PHS; National Institutes of Health; Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences ResearchNational Institute on Drug Abuse1817-1831https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9593554biostudies-literatureUnknown58(10)The thrifty phenotype and fetal overnutrition hypotheses are two developmental hypotheses that originated from the <i>developmental origins of health and disease</i> (DOHaD) perspective. The DOHaD posits that exposures experienced prenatally and early in life may influence health outcomes through altering form and function of internal organs related to metabolic processes. Obesity risk and early pubertal timing might be influenced by similar mechanisms. The thrifty phenotype hypothesis is primarily characterized by experiencing a deprivation of nutrients during gestation paired with an energy rich postnatal environment. The fetal overnutrition hypothesis says that obesity experienced prenatally will be associated with increased lifetime risk of obesity in the offspring. Both hypotheses were tested by examining developmental pathways from genetic and prenatal risk through early growth trajectories (birth to 7 years) to pubertal timing at age 11 years. Participants included 361 children adopted at birth (57% male; 57% non-Hispanic White, 11% Black, 9% Hispanic; adoptive family income <i>Mdn</i> = $70,000-$100,000, birth family income <i>Mdn</i> = < $15,000). Associations between boys' childhood body mass index (BMI) and pubertal timing were confounded by genetics, prenatal risk, and early growth. The thrifty phenotype hypothesis was partially supported for boys' childhood BMI (at ages 4 to 7 years). Both hypotheses were partially supported for girls' childhood BMI but not pubertal timing. A novel Gene × Prenatal Risk interaction showed that genetic risk predicted girls' childhood BMI most strongly at adequate compared with at excessive levels of gestational weight gain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).Developmental psychologyPrenatal programming of developmental trajectories for obesity risk and early pubertal timing.PMC9593554R01 MH092118R01 HD042608R01 DK090264R01 DA020585R01 DA045108R56 HD042608K01 DA039288Leve LDMarceau KRobertson OCNeiderhiser JMDuncan RJGaniban JMShirtcliff EANatsuaki MShaw DSfalsePrenatal programming of developmental trajectories for obesity risk and early pubertal timing.The thrifty phenotype and fetal overnutrition hypotheses are two developmental hypotheses that originated from the <i>developmental origins of health and disease</i> (DOHaD) perspective. The DOHaD posits that exposures experienced prenatally and early in life may influence health outcomes through altering form and function of internal organs related to metabolic processes. Obesity risk and early pubertal timing might be influenced by similar mechanisms. The thrifty phenotype hypothesis is primarily characterized by experiencing a deprivation of nutrients during gestation paired with an energy rich postnatal environment. The fetal overnutrition hypothesis says that obesity experienced prenatally will be associated with increased lifetime risk of obesity in the offspring. Both hypotheses were tested by examining developmental pathways from genetic and prenatal risk through early growth trajectories (birth to 7 years) to pubertal timing at age 11 years. Participants included 361 children adopted at birth (57% male; 57% non-Hispanic White, 11% Black, 9% Hispanic; adoptive family income <i>Mdn</i> = $70,000-$100,000, birth family income <i>Mdn</i> = < $15,000). Associations between boys' childhood body mass index (BMI) and pubertal timing were confounded by genetics, prenatal risk, and early growth. The thrifty phenotype hypothesis was partially supported for boys' childhood BMI (at ages 4 to 7 years). Both hypotheses were partially supported for girls' childhood BMI but not pubertal timing. A novel Gene × Prenatal Risk interaction showed that genetic risk predicted girls' childhood BMI most strongly at adequate compared with at excessive levels of gestational weight gain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2025-04-26T19:41:12.726Z2025-04-06T16:09:50.397ZS-EPMC95935543572730510.1037/dev0001405