Hormonal
Fetal programming and early-life under-nutrition (stunting) increase vulnerability to obesity and metabolic syndrome when individuals are exposed to modern, energy-dense diets during the nutrition transition.
For individuals with a history of childhood stunting or under-nutrition, standard weight loss advice may be less effective due to metabolic programming. Interventions should focus on high-quality nutrient density rather than just caloric restriction, and early-life nutrition is critical to prevent this vulnerability.
Vorster et al. [24] has suggested that, based on the Barker hypothesis of fetal programming for vulnerability to NCDs in later life when the expectant mother is nutritionally compromised, stunted children and adults in African households are more vulnerable to obesity when they are suddenly following a modern, 'Western' diet.
Why this rating
Supported by specific cohort studies (THUSA BANA, PLAY) showing significant increases in fat mass ratio in stunted girls post-menarche.
Source
The Nutrition Transition in Africa: Can It Be Steered into a More Positive Direction?
Hester H. Vorster et al. · Nutrients · 2011
DOI 10.3390/nu3040429
More from this paper
- Rapid nutrition transition toward energy-dense, micronutrient-poor diets in sub-Saharan Africa drives a double burden of disease, characterized by the simultaneous emergence of obesity/NCDs and persistent under-nutrition.Good
- Steering the nutrition transition toward positive health outcomes requires holistic, integrated public health policies that simultaneously address under- and over-nutrition through community involvement and stakeholder engagement.Moderate
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