“It is easier to build a strong child than to repair broken men”, is a statement widely attributed to Frederick Douglass, whose early years in slavery had given him a poor start in life. Our early years matter because the environment shapes our future health and resillience to unhealthy environments later in life. The risks to a child's health if the mother is obese, smokes during pregnancy, or develops pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes, or if the child's diet is high in sugar, salt, and trans-saturated fat, are well known.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Poore et al. (2017) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 2 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: