When mothers are undernourished during pregnancy, how does the process of developmental programming impact the fetus? What are the implications for the child if food is readily available in the postnatal environment?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The ideal answer should include:
1. A lack of calories during the prenatal period causes the fetus to increase its metabolic rate, or the rate at which it absorbs nutrition into the body.
2. This is an adaptive mechanism; if food is scarce in the postnatal environment, it allows the baby to survive on fewer calories.
3. However, when nutrition is plentiful in the postnatal environment, children with a more efficient metabolism are more likely to be overweight. The implications for the child if food is readily available in the postnatal environment include weight gain, obesity, and obesity-related illnesses.
4. Being overweight leads to a cascade of other risks including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.