Learn → Glossary → epidemiology
Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
Hypothesis that maternal and early-life nutritional and environmental exposures shape lifelong risk of chronic disease.
Also: Barker Hypothesis, Barker hypothesis, DOHaD, Fetal Origins of Disease, Fetal programming
Originated with David Barker's observations linking low birth weight to adult cardiovascular disease. Mechanisms include epigenetic programming, altered organ development, and metabolic 'thrifty phenotype' adaptations. Preconception, prenatal, and infant nutrition emerge as critical windows for chronic disease prevention. Now influences global maternal-child nutrition policy.
How each textbook covers it
Krause and Mahan's Food and the Nutrition Care Process, 16th ed. — Chapter 14
Originated with David Barker's observations linking low birth weight to adult cardiovascular disease. Mechanisms include epigenetic programming, altered organ development, and metabolic 'thrifty phenotype' adaptations. Preconception, prenatal, and infant nutrition emerge as critical windows for chronic disease prevention. Now influences global maternal-child nutrition policy.
Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 12th ed. — Ch 40: Epigenetics
Originating with David Barker's observations linking low birth weight to adult cardiovascular and metabolic disease, DOHaD is now substantiated by mechanistic work in epigenetics, microbiome programming, and developmental endocrinology. Implication: maternal and infant nutrition is a life-course intervention with effects far beyond birth outcomes.
Related terms
Epigenetics, Fetal programming, Low Birth Weight, Macrosomia, Nutrition in pregnancy