Submitted by aml95 on Mon, 14/07/2025 - 08:59
A critical window of just 1,000 days – from pregnancy through to a child’s second birthday – has been identified as key to influencing weight patterns that can last a lifetime, according to a new report from the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and Italy’s Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.
The 'Early years interventions to tackle child obesity and promote lifelong health' report which was co-chaired by IMS-MRL Director, Professor Sue Ozanne, highlights that developmental trajectories become more difficult to alter after around age five, making early intervention important as childhood obesity rates reach alarming levels across the UK and other countries.
Professor Ozanne said:
“The first 1,000 days, including time in the womb, represent an important window of opportunity to set children on a healthy trajectory for life. Once obesity is established, it becomes increasingly harder to reverse. This isn’t about individual willpower or blaming and shaming – it's about creating an environment for parents, carers and their children that supports healthy development from the very beginning.”
The report was produced following a joint policy workshop, organised by the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the Italian Accademiia Nation Nazionale funded by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It summarises discussions from leading researchers and World Health Organization experts to focus specifically on the obesity crisis within the broader context of declining child health.
