LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Born for strokes

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/sci_update.cfm?DocID=185

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

About this resource

Appropriate grades
9–12
Subjects
healthful living (nutrition, physical health/disease prevention), science (biology and life science), thinking skills (information literacy)
Provider
American Association for the Advancement of Science

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Creative Commons License

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In this Science Update, students explore a recent study that suggests that malnutrition in the womb can cause health problems for the child later in life. According to Daniel Lackland, a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, babies who are born underweight or premature may face a higher risk of stroke decades later. Working with British researcher David Barker, who also studies stroke rates, they noticed a connection between low birth rates and increased stroke rates. The researchers also found that underweight babies are more likely to have strokes as adults, even if they left the area. The study indicates that poor nutrition in the womb can have effects that linger for life. Science NetLinks provides a link to the audio file, a written transcript, and questions to engage students in discussion about the “stroke belt,” Lackland’s research, and other tests that might further test this theory. This activity also contains links to the Young Epidemiology Scholars competition and the Internet Stroke Center.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grades 9–12 — Biology

  • Goal 4: The learner will develop an understanding of the unity and diversity of life.
    • Objective 4.04: Analyze and explain the interactive role of internal and external factors in health and disease:
      • Genetics.
      • Immune response.
      • Nutrition.
      • Parasites.
      • Toxins.

Healthful Living Education (2006)

Grades 9–12

  • Goal 4: The learner will apply knowledge and behavior self-management skills to areas of nutrition and physical activity for healthy growth, development, and maintenance.
    • Objective 4.01: Delineate how healthy eating and physical activity can reduce the risk for chronic diseases (e.g. obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis).