Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD): Implications for Health Policy and Health Promotion

Dear Colleagues,

The purpose of this issue is to explore the implications for public health policy and health promotion/prevention programs of the rapidly expanding knowledge base of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). This new science fundamentally changes our understanding of the roots of significant chronic disease such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity.We now know that intergenerational vulnerability for disease is established prior to and in the first 1000 days after conception. Vulnerability for virtually all chronic diseases, several cancers, and significant mental health problems, are now linked to this critical interval. In addition, cognitive development, as assessed by readiness for school measures, is also established during this period. Understanding disease as a product of a gene-environment interaction and not just a function of genes-plus-behavior, represents the bridging of nature and nurture.  This redefines the idea of “upstream” and presents new challenges and opportunities for how we think about policy and program related to health promotion and broader prevention.  This issue will be one of the first opportunities to engage in professional discourse on this issue.

Prof. Lawrence Wallack
Guest Editor

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