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Families and Child Health pp 23–32Cite as

Developmental Origins of Disease and Health Disparities: Limitations and Future Directions

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Part of the book series: National Symposium on Family Issues ((NSFI))

Abstract

The developmental origins of disease (DOD) model seeks to replace the traditional epidemiologic risk-factor model with a perspective focused on the long-term consequences of nutritional resource scarcity during early life and the developmental trade-offs it creates. Research into the developmental origins of adult chronic disease has progressed substantially in recent years. However, a number of critical issues remain unexplored and underdeveloped. This chapter discusses some of those issues while providing an interdisciplinary population health perspective on the future of DOD research, with particular attention paid to health disparities and changes that are needed in health policy and intervention. I argue for research to provide greater specificity of the exposures of interest, a more comprehensive understanding of critical periods, and better theoretical and empirical integration of the developmental origins perspective within the life course and across multiple intergenerational processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Crime, Law & Justice, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Steven A. Haas Ph.D.

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  1. Steven A. Haas Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Steven A. Haas Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Nancy S. Landale , Susan M. McHale  & Alan Booth ,  & 

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Haas, S.A. (2013). Developmental Origins of Disease and Health Disparities: Limitations and Future Directions. In: Landale, N., McHale, S., Booth, A. (eds) Families and Child Health. National Symposium on Family Issues. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6194-4_3

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