The Hertfordshire Cohort Study has featured on the BBC’s flagship science programme, Horizon. The programme entitled ‘The Nine Months That Made You’ was broadcast in August 2011 on BBC2. It described how Professor David Barker, who preceded our current MRC LEU Director, Professor Cyrus Cooper, discovered the health visitor records in Hertfordshire, and used these to develop his theories on how the nine months spent in the womb can have a life-long effect on a person’s health. It went on to describe Professor Barker’s struggle to convince the scientific community of his idea, but how, as time has gone on, and more and more evidence to support his hypothesis has been demonstrated, the theory has become more accepted, and is now inspiring new studies all around the world.
Here is how the BBC described the programme: “Horizon explores the secrets of what makes a long, healthy and happy life. It turns out that a time you can’t remember – the nine months you spend in the womb – could have more lasting effects on you today than your lifestyle or genes. It is one of the most powerful and provocative new ideas in human science, and it was pioneered by a British scientist, Professor David Barker. His theory has inspired a field of study that is revealing how our time in the womb could affect your health, personality, and even the lives of your children.”
Here at the MRC LEU, we are most excited to have the study featured on a national television programme; we hope all of our participants are as proud as we are.
