Nutrition in utero and/or during early childhood, critical periods of growth, has major influences on health in adulthood. This concept is termed as the developmental origins of adult health and disease, and is the focus of this webinar. Join Dr Hoffman as he discusses this hugely relevant topic, particularly given that growth restriction is a global public health problem with over 150 million children classified as “stunted”, a marker of poor growth due to inadequate nutrition, repeated infections, and poverty. This webinar presents a summary of how healthy growth is defined and the factors that influence growth. Analyse population studies reporting that poor growth may be a risk factor for chronic diseases. To explore that point further, studies on metabolic and body composition outcomes in cohorts of children or adults who experienced poor growth in utero or during childhood will be discussed. Looking to the future, look at the potential mechanisms and interactions that explain how nutrition in utero and during early childhood influences lifelong health.
What will I gain from this webinar?
- Learn about the developmental origins of adult health and disease.
- Gain insight on poor or optimal growth and the factors that influence growth.
- Understand the relationship between poor growth and metabolism and how it plays a part as a potential mediator of adult health or disease.
Endorsement No EN175.58
Curriculum
- 1 Section
- 2 Lessons
- Lifetime
- Early Origins of Adult Metabolic Diseases2
Instructor
Daniel Hoffman graduated from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN and received his PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology from the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science. He then completed post-doctoral training at Columbia University and is now a Professor of Nutritional Sciences and Director of the Rutgers Program in International Nutrition and the Center for Childhood Nutrition Research at the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health.
Dr. Hoffman's area of expertise is energy metabolism, body composition, and international nutrition. The focus of Dr. Hoffman's research program is to better understand the relationship between poor growth in childhood and the development of chronic diseases in adulthood. To accomplish this, Dr. Hoffman directs or collaborates on research projects in several countries including Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, and South Korea to better understand how poor growth early in life influences metabolism and body composition later in life as potential risk factors for chronic diseases. In addition, Dr. Hoffman is a Co-Principal Investigator of a project in Kenya and Zambia to evaluate the impact of African-Indigenous Vegetables on dietary diversity and health in rural households. Most recently, Dr. Hoffman has received funding as a Co-Investigator to study the impact of climate change on human energetics in Cuba and Indonesia.
An author of numerous papers and chapters on energy metabolism, body composition, and pediatric nutrition, Dr. Hoffman is also the Associate Editor of the Food and Nutrition Bulletin, a section editor of Annals in Human Biology, and an editorial board member of the Journal of Nutrition. Aside from academic work, Dr. Hoffman is an expert consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations and UNICEF South Sudan. Dr. Hoffman has been a member of several national and international advisory groups and held leadership positions in American Society for Nutrition.
