Understanding DOHaD Concepts Among New Zealand Adolescents: A Qualitative Exploration of Knowledge, Intervention Windows, and Information Accessibility.

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework has highlighted the role of maternal and paternal health on disease risk in offspring and across generations. Although adolescence is increasingly recognised as a key DOHaD window where interventions may have the greatest impact in breaking the cycle of non-communicable diseases, data around the recognition of this concept in adolescents remain limited. Previous work by our group found that the understanding of DOHaD-related concepts among adolescents in New Zealand was low, including some adolescents showing disagreement with key DOHaD concepts.

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Adolescence as a Critical Lifecourse Period to Break the Transgenerational Cycle of NCDs-A Narrative Review.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, represent a significant and growing global health burden. To date, a primary focus has been on treatment approaches to NCDs once manifested rather than strategies aimed at prevention. In this context, there is clear evidence that a range of adverse early life exposures can predispose individuals towards a greater risk of developing NCDs across the lifecourse.