Baby’s first 1,000 days vital to long-term health

Professor David Barker and his colleagues at Southampton University developed the theory after decades of research.

They believe there are a series of critical stages in a child’s development. If conditions are not perfect at each step,problems can occur later.

Poor nutrition for a mother affects both the unborn baby’s weight and how well the placenta works,while smoking,stress,drugs and alcohol can also take their toll.

Professor Barker believes many health problems can be traced back to poor growth in the womb.

He has shown that the lighter a baby is at birth,the higher its odds of heart disease in later life. On average,a baby weighing less than 5lb 7oz is twice as likely to die from a heart attack than one born at 9lb 7oz.

The seeds of diabetes may also be sown before birth,as the pancreatic cells that make insulin develop in the womb.

Conditions in the uterus can also affect weight for years to come,studies suggest.

Professor Barker said many of these early effects are ‘set in stone’ and cannot be undone. He added that the key to health is ensuring women eat well throughout their lives.