Environmental studies have explored the antecedents of asthma where environmental exposures including prenatal maternal anxiety and paracetamol use,32–34 exposure to a range of cleaning products35,36 and excessive hygiene regimens37 have been found to influence the development of asthma in the child. Analysis of early life influences including maternal age, diet and smoking do not appear to influence blood pressure in the child38–41 although maternal weight gain in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of child adiposity and adverse cardiovascular risk factors.42 ALSPAC has also shown that fat mass contributes to higher bone mineral density.43,44
