In Colombia 56% of adult people have obesity or overweight, with 10% of under nutrition in first infancy. An alarming 28.4% prevalence of under nutrition is reported in Central America, more than twice the Latin America average (12.8%). According to the Barker hypothesis, nutrition problems have a direct link with chronic degenerative diseases. In Latin America, one of three adults suffer hypertension (the second cause of disability in the world). In Mexico, a prevalence of 9.4% is reported for diabetes and 25.5% for arterial hypertension. Malnutrition and sub-optimal fetal growth may contribute to a greater risk of chronic diseases. This "programming" predisposes and increases the adults risk of suffering chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and related disorders, cerebrovascular accidents, diabetes, obesity and hypertension.

The rise of new research branches such as Microbiome, has opened a large field for research, several new reports has led to consider the gut microbiota as a virtual endocrine organ. Evidence for a direct role arises from its metabolic capacity to produce and regulate multiple compounds that reach the circulation and act to influence the function of distal organs and systems.

 

All of the above highlights the importance of influencing early prevention strategies in the perinatal period to modify these outcomes. Complex problems require complex solutions, require multidisciplinary work in which the most creative researchers, the best prepared clinicians, the most committed people gather their efforts and design real solutions to identify populations at risk and early interventions to reduce the impact of degenerative chronic diseases in our countries, in our people.

 

That's why it is an honor for us to receive you here in DOHaD Mexico 2018. We  hope you enjoy this transcendent event.