Questions posed concerning the impact that nutrition in womb, early life has on healthy life chances

THE POWER OF PROGRAMMING: Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Munich: 6-8 May 2010

The evidence emerging from the EC funded EARNEST (Early Nutrition Programming) Project is beginning to shine some light into intriguing and potentially difficult ethical questions concerning the impact that nutrition in the womb and in early life has on our healthy life chances. Early Nutrition Programming is an emerging science which is allowing us to pose new questions such as

* Can targeted dietary management in the womb and in the first year of life help combat life-threatening disease and even up our chances of a healthier life in child- and adulthood?

* How important is actual food intake versus parental care versus social and economic environment in helping to combat the rise in childhood obesity?