Maternal diet may program child for disease risk, but better nutrition later can change that

(University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences) Research has shown that a mother's diet during pregnancy, particularly one that is high-fat, may program her baby for future risk of certain diseases such as diabetes. A new study from nutrition researchers at the University of Illinois shows that switching the offspring to a new diet -- a low-fat diet, in this case -- can reverse that programming.