Early growth and later health: Findings from the helsinki birth cohort study

Abstract

It is well established that factors active during prenatal life and early childhood largely influence later health outcomes. Slow rates of growth during prenatal and postnatal life increase the later risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Lifestyle is closely associated with these non-communicable disease outcomes. The programming of food choices and exercise habits seems to take place early in life and could be one factor explaining the association between early growth and later health outcomes.