Is it true that improper nutrition in young children can lead to diseases when they become adults?
It has been found that poor growth of the baby when in the womb and during the first 2 years of life can have long term health effects. Stunting in the first 2 years of life leads to shorter adult height and poor mental skills in school going children. These stunted adults then give birth to the babies with low birth weight. Thus, adequate nutrition in utero and in the first 2 years of life is essential for achieving optimum adult health. Also children who are undernourished in the first 2 years of life and who put on weight rapidly later in childhood and in adolescence are at high risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. How does poor nourishment in preschoolers and lead to diseases in the adult? The hypothesis of poor nourishment in babies and adult disease was first put forth by Dr. David J.P. Barker in early 1990s. It has been found that first 2 years of life are critical period of growth and deviation in growth during this period can lead to irreversible damage
