Prioritizing Preconception Health

Preconception health is increasingly recognized as a key determinant of pregnancy outcomes. The “Developmental Origins of Health and Disease” concept highlights both maternal and paternal environmental factors, including diet, body composition, metabolism, and stress, as affecting the health of future generations.

Now, in three reports, international leaders call for a focus on scalable strategies for promoting preconception health — including folic acid supplementation and fortification, cash transfers and incentives, and behavioral change interventions — alongside continued efforts to reduce smoking and alcohol consumption and to control obesity. Recognizing that relatively few couples worldwide actively plan for pregnancy, innovative appr…