The first 2000 days: Giving our kids the best start for a healthier life

Prevention Works

In this episode, host Gretchen Miller interviews guests Professor Helen Skouteris and Dr Alexandra Chung on the early days of our life's journey and how influential they are in preventing future health issues.

Our guests, both from Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, conducted a knowledge synthesis that examined the first 2000 days of our lives drawing on the combined research from various Centres of Research Excellence that make up the Collaboration for Enhanced Research Impact (CERI). Together they mobilised researchers from CERI to synthesise what we know about the importance of the first 2000 days in a child’s life for the prevention of future chronic disease.

Professor Helen Skouteris is a developmental psychologist and implementation science expert and head of Monash University's Health and Social Care Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Professor Skouteris is also Director of the Centre of Research Excellence in Health in Preconception and Pregnancy (CRE HiPP), one of the CREs that contributes to CERI.

Dr Alexandra Chung is a VicHealth Postdoctoral Research Fellow whose interests include childhood obesity prevention, and the role of policy in equitably improving children’s diets.