Growth Patterns and Adult Diseases: Growth During Childhood and Determinants of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Profi le in Young Adults

Th is doctoral thesis describes the infl uence of diff erent growth patterns during childhood on determinants of adult disease, like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis, in healthy young adults. Additionally, diff erences in these determinants are described between four clinically relevant subgroups; young adults born small for gestational age (SGA), with and without catch-up growth and young adults born appropriate for gestational age with short and normal adult height. Finally, the relation between early growth and determinants of adult disease, and the relation between nutrient intakes and body size in infancy are discussed. Th is chapter describes several hypotheses with regard to the infl uence of birth size and childhood growth on adult diseases and their determinants. In addition, the defi nitions, prevalence and etiologies of SGA and idiopathic short stature (ISS) are discussed together with the study design. Finally, the aims and outline of the thesis are presented.