Lifelong consequences of metabolic adaptations in utero?

Dr. Phillips argues that insulin resistance in adult life may be the price the developing fetus has to pay in return for a short-term successful adaptation to undernutrition in utero. The concept is interesting, and, indeed, challenging. There is, however, a strong need for expansion of the existing knowledge of the possible developmental mechanisms involved, especially against the background of the obvious diagnostic and therapeutic gains in this particular group of patients.