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Fetal Programming

Meaning

Fetal programming is a biological concept positing that environmental factors, particularly maternal nutrition and stress during critical periods of fetal development, can permanently alter the structure, physiology, and metabolism of the offspring. These early-life adaptations, often mediated by epigenetic changes, are thought to “program” the individual’s long-term risk for developing chronic non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type $text{2}$ diabetes, and hormonal dysfunction later in life.